Emergency programme to give Americans $50 off internet bill

Washington: Americans can begin applying for USD 50 off their monthly internet bill on Wednesday as part of an emergency government programme to keep people connected during the pandemic.

The USD 3.2 billion programme is part of the USD 900 billion December pandemic-relief package. The government is increasing spending on broadband as the pandemic made stark that millions of Americans did not have access to, and could not afford, broadband at a time when jobs, school and health care was moving online.