Welcome to the broadband assistance programs administered by the Eastern Shore of Virginia Broadband Authority (ESVBA). The goal of the programs is to help residents with installation cost and monthly bill payments. Please read carefully to find a program you are eligible for and submit an application.
Assistance Programs
Long Driveway Assistance Program
The long driveway assistance program, also known as the special construction program, is part of the $15.6 million grant awarded by the 2022 Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI). The fund is used to subsidize the cost of placing the network from the nearest curb to a customer’s house. The goal of the program is to ensure that every resident can afford services as most of the installation cost is offset by the program. To be eligible,
- The driveway must be longer than 150 feet from the roadway or easements
- Customers must be located in one of the fourteen project areas to qualify. Check the list of areas here.
- The household must qualify as low or moderate income household.
The program started on June 1st 2022 and will remain open until at least May 2024. Contact the ESVBA team at (757) 414-0304 or email sales@esvba.com to sign up. For more information on the program, read the 2022 VATI Guidelines
Long Driveway Cost Assistance Program
Also called the Line Extension Customer Assistance Program (LECAP), the program is designed to support the extension of existing broadband networks to low-to-moderate-income residents. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has approved the ESVBA’s bid to be an eligible service provider. The fund is used to subsidize the cost of placing the network from the nearest curb to a customer’s house. The fund helps overcome financial constraints and get more people access to affordable broadband. To be eligible, households have to have earned $89,066 or less and up to $133,599 in certain high-income areas. Households are not eligible if the income is at or above $133,599 annually.
To apply, go to https://dmz1.dhcd.virginia.gov/C4P/LECAP/Create_HA
For eligibility questions, contact the ESVBA team at (757) 414-0304 or sales@esvba.com. For more information about the program, visit https://dhcd.virginia.gov/lecap or email lecap@dhcd.virginia.gov
Monthly Internet Bill Discount Program
Also called the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), the program is a federal benefit program designed to make broadband affordable for needing households. The program provides a $30 discount per month per eligible household. A household is eligible if it meets at least one of the following criteria:
- The household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- Participation in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline.
- Participation in the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision.
- Receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year.
- Meeting the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income internet program.
To submit a request, follow the following steps:
- Go to orgto submit an application or print out a mail-in application.
- After receiving an eligibility determination, households can contact the ESVBA to request this service discount by calling (757) 414-0304 or emailing sales@esvba.com
- ESVBA will confirm eligibility and qualifying subscription and then apply an automatic monthly credit to the qualifying account. For more information, visit https://www.fcc.gov/acp
Installation Cost Assistance program
The fund was created by the Board of Directors of the ESVBA to reduce or eliminate the installation cost for residential subscribers. Residents of both Northampton County and Accomack County are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants can get up to $1,000 to offset their installation cost. To be eligible, customers must meet the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) requirements listed at https://www.fcc.gov/acp. You may be eligible based on income and extraordinary circumstances due to the Covid-19 pandemic. To sign up, contact the ESVBA team at (757) 414-0304 or email sales@esvba.com
Customer Cost Reduction Program
The program pays for the cost of extending existing broadband networks. Residents only pay a small portion of the cost of placing network from the curb to a customer’s house. It is called the Line Extension Customer Assistance Program (LECAP). To apply, a household has to have earned $89,066 or less and up to $133,599 in certain high-income areas. A household is not eligible if the income is at or above $133,599 annually. To apply, go to https://dmz1.dhcd.virginia.gov/C4P/LECAP/Create_HA. For questions, contact the ESVBA at (757) 414-0304 or sales@esvba.com. Visit https://dhcd.virginia.gov/lecap or email lecap@dhcd.virginia.gov for more information.
Accomack Residents Assistance Program
In its efforts to ensure that residents of Accomack County have access to broadband connectivity, Accomack County established the Broadband Assistance Program (BAP). The program helps residents offset broadband installation charges as the cost of installation can be expensive for low-income families. To quality, applicants have to be a resident of Accomack County. Qualified residents can be approved for up to $1,000 per household. The program is run by the ESVBA. To be considered, contact the ESVBA team at (757) 414-0304 or emailing sales@esvba.com
