Alaska’s largest telecommunications provider, GCI, has announced that it will deliver free internet to Alaskans in need as part of the Energy Broadband Benefit Program. The temporary program, as part of the Federal Communications Commission, was announced earlier this year. It will provide internet to qualifying households struggling to pay for internet service during the pandemic. GCI will offer its standard internet plan for free for those who qualify.
Heather Handyside, Vice President of Corporate Communications for GCI spoke to KSRM, “The FCC has listed criteria for folks to help them understand if they would qualify for this benefit. Some of the qualifications are if someone in your family receives free or reduced lunch or breakfast under federal programs, individuals who have received a Pell grant, somebody who is already eligible for the lifeline program, which is another program where folks can get a deeply discounted wireless phone service for just a few dollars a month, or if you can demonstrate you have had a substantial loss of income since February 2020. These are the criteria that the FCC is looking for. If you go to the FCC website, it’s called the National Verification Site, you enter your information and once they verify that you are someone who qualifies, if you are a GCI customer, or you want to sign up with GCI, GCI will be notified and we can start you on these low cost or free internet programs. It’s not necessarily easy to understand, but we can direct folks to the website. They can get qualified and if they contact GCI, we’ll be able to walk them through the process.”
The program provides eligible new and existing GCI customers with a $75 per month credit, fully covering the cost of GCI’s entry-level internet plan. Alternatively, customers can choose to use the credit to upgrade an existing plan. Eligible households may purchase a Samsung tablet, valued at $139.99, for a one-time payment of only $10.99 under the program. Only one tablet will be offered per household while supplies last.
Those interested in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program must pre-qualify for the program through the FCC’s National Verifier which will be available on May 12. After customers have been verified, they must opt into the program through GCI. More information about the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program can be found here and here.