# 116-hr-6881: Emergency Broadband Connections Act of 2020

116-hr-6881, Emergency Broadband Connections Act of 2020, is a 116th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33] (D-TX); status Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-6881
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 116-hr-6881
- Congress: 116
- Title: Emergency Broadband Connections Act of 2020
- Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced: 2020-05-14
- Sponsor: Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33] (D-TX)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Emergency Broadband Connections Act of 2020 This bill establishes an emergency broadband benefit for certain households during the emergency period related to COVID-19, and it modifies the Lifeline program of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which reduces the cost of communications services for low-income consumers. Specifically, the bill requires a broadband service provider to provide a low-income household, upon request, with broadband internet service at a price that is discounted in an amount equal to the emergency broadband benefit for such household. The emergency broadband benefit is a monthly discount that is applied to the normal rate for internet service. Further, the bill establishes the Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund from which the FCC shall reimburse a provider in an amount equal to the emergency broadband benefit provided to a household. Providers that supply discounted connected devices (e.g., computers) to eligible households may also receive certain reimbursements from the fund. The bill requires service providers participating in the FCC's Lifeline program to provide an unlimited number of minutes and data during the emergency period. The bill also requires the FCC to make a grant to each state for connecting the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) database to the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier, so that receipt of SNAP benefits is reflected in the Lifeline verifier. The verifier determines consumer eligibility for the Lifeline program, and receipt of SNAP benefits automatically qualifies a household for Lifeline service.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE] (D-DE), 2020-07-30T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 116-hr-8595: To nullify the effect of Executive Order 13950 relating to combating race and sex stereotyping.
- 116-hr-8352: Jobs and Justice Act of 2020
- 116-hr-8270: I am Vanessa Guillén Act of 2020
- 116-hr-8015: Delivering for America Act
- 116-hr-7821: Worker Relief and Security Act of 2020
- 116-hr-7816: Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act of 2020

## Sources
- [116-hr-6881 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6881)

## Related
- [116-hr-8595: To nullify the effect of Executive Order 13950 relating to combating race and s…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8595)
- [116-hr-8352: Jobs and Justice Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8352)
- [116-hr-8270: I am Vanessa Guillén Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8270)
- [116-hr-8015: Delivering for America Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8015)
- [116-hr-7821: Worker Relief and Security Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7821)
- [116-hr-7816: Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7816)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-6881 (as of 2025-11-18).