Satellite Industry Association Applauds FCC for Approving Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

Washington, D.C., March 1, 2021 – The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) today commended the Federal Communications Commission for approving the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.  The federally funded discount program is designed to assist eligible households afford vital internet connectivity during the pandemic.

Late last week, the FCC voted to formally adopt the Report and Order that establishes the emergency program which is a $3.2 billion federal initiative to provide qualifying households discounts on their internet service bills and an opportunity to receive a discount on a computer or tablet. The FCC plans to open the program to households within 60 days.

“Over the past year, the need to work from home and access online schooling during the pandemic has demonstrated the critical importance that all Americans have access to affordable and reliable connectivity,” said Tom Stroup, President of the Satellite Industry Association.  “The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program will help ensure Americans have access to high quality terrestrial and satellite-based internet services and we strongly applaud FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and the Commission for approving this Program.”

The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program will provide eligible households with discounts of up to $50 a month for broadband service, and up to $75 a month if the household is on Tribal lands. It also will provide a one-time discount of up to $100 on a computer or tablet for eligible households.

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About The Satellite Industry Association

SIA is a U.S.-based trade association providing representation of the leading satellite operators, service providers, manufacturers, launch services providers, and ground equipment suppliers. For more than two decades, SIA has advocated on behalf of the U.S. satellite industry on policy, regulatory, and legislative issues affecting the satellite business. For more information, visit www.sia.org.

SIA Executive Members include: Amazon; AT&T Services, Inc.; The Boeing Company; EchoStar Corporation; Intelsat S.A.; Iridium Communications Inc.; Kratos Defense & Security Solutions; Ligado Networks; Lockheed Martin Corporation; OneWeb; SES Americom, Inc.; Space Exploration Technologies Corp.; Spire Global Inc.; and Viasat Inc. SIA Associate Members include: ABS US Corp.; Amazon Web Services; Artel, LLC; AST & Science; Astranis Space Technologies Corp.; Blue Origin; Eutelsat America Corp.; ExoAnalytic Solutions; HawkEye 360; Hughes; Inmarsat, Inc.; Kymeta Corporation; Leonardo DRS; Lynk; Omnispace; Ovzon; Panasonic Avionics Corporation; Peraton; Planet; Telesat Canada; ULA; and XTAR, LLC. SIA Affiliate Members include: The Aerospace Corporation; Akash Systems Inc.; AQYR Technologies; COMSAT; Envistacom, LLC; Integrasys LLC, Kaman Precision Products; Kencast; Keysight Technologies, Inc.; Media Broadcast Satellite; NB+C; Plexus Corp; Sheppard Mullin; Skylo Technologies; and Wiley