Assistance Available to Help Pay Internet Service Bill

Those who need help paying their internet service bill might be eligible for a grant from the Vermont COVID-19 Temporary Broadband Subsidy program. The program is available to Vermont residential broadband customers who have experienced economic hardship because of 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 who are struggling to pay their internet service bills.”

To date, only 750 applicants have received benefits under the program. The program is supported with $3 million in funding from the federal CARES Act, which has provided money to states to help pay for COVID-19–related costs incurred as of March 1, 2020, and through Dec. 30, 2020. The program was developed in conjunction with the Vermont COVID Arrearage Assistance Program. Residents have until Nov. 30 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 of up to $40 per month on their broadband bills from March 1 to Dec. 30.

For more information on the TBS program and other COVID-19 assistance programs, please visit the Department’s website at publicservice.vermont.gov, or contact the Department of Public Service at psd.consumer@vermont.gov; at 1-800-622-4496; or online at capi.epsd.vermont.gov/?q=node/51.