WILLIAMSBURG — Cox Internet has announced a new program for low-income households called “Connect Assist”.
The new program will provide customers who are eligible with internet access and modem rental for $30/month plus taxes. The modem rental supports speeds up to 50 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload.
“ConnectAssist is available to all eligible Cox customers in any area we serve,” said Cox Community/Public Affairs Specialist, Erin Powell.
These areas would include Williamsburg, Yorktown, Gloucester, Poquoson, amongst many other areas that cox internet already covers in the Hampton Roads region.
Cox Internet states that the program is available to households who participate in one of the government subsidies programs: SNAP, TANF, Head Start, WIC, LIHEAP, Public Housing, Pell Grant, Veterans Pension & Survivors Benefits, Tribal Programs, Supplemental Security Income, or Medicaid.
The potential customers who qualify for Cox’s new “Connect Assist” program might also qualify for Cox’s distribution of the Emergency Broadband Benefits program (EBB). This new program is a part of Cox’s efforts to help administer the financial relief provided by the federal government’s EBB Program.
“The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. This new benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, critical healthcare services, virtual classrooms, and so much more,” the official FCC Website states. “The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.”
One distinction about the EBB program is that it will end when the federal fund runs out of money or six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares an end to the COVID-19 health emergency, whichever happens first.
Households that decide to participate in the EBB program will need to opt-in to continue receiving broadband services from their provider after the program ends.
Customers looking to see if they qualify for these programs can visit the emergency broadband benefit program’s official website.
