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As hurricane batter the Atlantic and Gulf coast of the United States , many the great unwashed ’s bread and butter are on hold and they ’re struggling to make ends meet . The Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) just decided thatanyone affect by a innate disaster can get a breaking on broadband and mobile service ; it ’s not much , but every piffling bit tally .
The Lifeline program is a long - run broadcast that assist lower the cost of cyberspace accession for anyone who , temporarily or chronically , finds it unmanageable to devote for the avail . Like any cash - assistance program , it has had its ups and down over the years as officials pettifog over who qualifies and for how much .
Right now , though , all you require to know is that if you ’ve been affected by a late storm , or if another comes along this season , you qualify for a few one dollar bill off your internet circular . Here ’s what the FCC write :
Because of the crying context that arise from Hurricane Milton , we find that there is good cause for further legal action to expeditiously secure that households find critical assistance for their communication need in the wake of hurricanes and other tropical weather systems in the near term . As such … we temporarily forgo the Lifeline eligibility necessary to permit house not already enrol in the Lifeline program to inscribe the program if they are receiving [ FEMA aid ] as a result of the impacts of Hurricane Milton or other hurricane or other tropic weather organization that result in a Presidential contract of exigency or major calamity that occur during the next six months .
The maximum subsidy of $ 9.25 is n’t exactly life - changing , but for a circumstances of people shoot by these tempest , that ’s a repast they might not have been able to give otherwise . It ’s also probably not the only assistance you may get — sign up for the Lifeline stuff hereand poke around to see if those benefits can be extend or increased , or if multiple member of the family ( for example , each with their own mobile phone bill ) can take them .
If you restrict for one , you probably stipulate for a bunch . So if you ’re shin due to storm - related offspring , whether because your habitation is flooded , your workplace is shut down , or anything else , give it a shot .
Start here to apply . It does n’t cost anything . The current release expanding the shape for Lifeline memory access will last for six months , but I would be shocked if this did n’t become a regular matter .