Good afternoon.

Yesterday, the FCC opened its Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program, a provision of the December COVID relief package. You can read about the program in this American Libraries Magazine article: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/fcc-opens-emergency-broadband-benefit-program/. ALA has also created a fact sheet for libraries: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/telecom/broadband/ALA_EBB_fact%20sheet.pdf.

While the EBB program is for individuals, libraries do have a role to play in raising awareness about the program and about library resources and services that help close the digital divide. Feel free to share this information with your members.

Here are three things libraries can do right now to make a difference in the EBB rollout: 

1. Customize and share flyers, posters and/or handouts in your library and community outreach; 
2. Get the word out via library social media, library press release and/or newsletter blurb; 
3. Connect with local government and nonprofit partners to exchange information and resources to ensure your library and its resources (e.g., digital library card, online homework help, computer classes) are included in their outreach. 

Here are additional resources from fellow broadband advocates:

Next Century Cities: https://nextcenturycities.org/ebbresources/

NCC has compiled examples of public awareness efforts, along with information and resources. They will host a webinar and May 14 Day of Action to promote outreach and enrollment for EBB.

Leadership Conference on Civil Rights: https://civilrights.org/category/media-technology-resources/

To connect as many households as possible to this program, The Leadership Conference, in partnership with Neta Collab has created a social toolkit to help spread the word about the EBB program on social media platforms. This toolkit consists of information about the program, sample graphics, posts, hashtags, and emails. They also offer a Spanish version of the toolkit.

Please also make a note to join us for an EBB webinar on Wednesday, May 19 at 2 pm ET to learn more about this program and how we can get our communities connected. Register here. 

Webinar speakers: 

Cheryl Leanza, Policy Advisor, United Church of Christ OC Inc.  

Kate Ruane, Senior Legislative Counsel, ACLU 

Brandon Forester, National Organizer for Internet Rights and Platform Accountability, MediaJustice 

Daiquiri Ryan, Co-founder, Neta Collab 

Moderator: Anita Banerji, Consultant, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights   

National Digital Inclusion Alliance: https://www.digitalinclusion.org/emergency-broadband-benefit/

EBB HELP from Media Justice: https://www.ebbhelp.org/

If you have any questions about EBB, please contact Larra Clark, [log in to unmask], or Marijke Visser, [log in to unmask].

Thanks.

Megan

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Megan Murray Cusick, MLIS

Assistant Director, State Advocacy

Public Policy & Advocacy | American Library Association

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