Vermont Business Magazine If you need help with paying your internet service bill, you may be eligible for a grant from the Vermont COVID-19 Temporary Broadband Subsidy Program (TBS). The program is available to Vermont residential broadband customers who have experienced economic hardship due to the pandemic.
“Broadband internet access has proven to be a necessity for education, remote work, and telehealth in the COVID Emergency,” said Department of Public Service Commissioner June Tierney. “Thankfully, Vermont has been able to make these grants available using federal CARES Act money to help those that struggling to pay their internet service bills.”
To date, only 750 applicants have received benefits under the Temporary Broadband Subsidy. The Program is supported with $3 Million in funding from the federal CARES Act, which has provided monies to states to help pay for COVID-19–related costs incurred as of March 1, 2020, and through December 30, 2020. The Temporary Broadband Subsidy was developed in conjunction with the Vermont COVID Arrearage Assistance Program. Residents have until November 30th to apply for funding, and funding can be awarded retroactive to March 1, 2020 to cover unpaid broadband bills. Applicants are eligible for a credit worth up to $40 per month on their broadband bills from March 1st – December 30th.
For more information on TBS and other COVID-19 assistance programs, please visit the Department’s website at http://www.publicservice.vermont.gov, or contact the Department of Public Service at [email protected]; at 1-800-622-4496; or online at https://capi.epsd.vermont.gov/?q=node/51.
Source: Montpelier, VT – Vermont Public Service Department 10.29.2020