Total Wireless is a low-cost telecommunication company that may be able to cut your current bill in half! The company is owned by TracFone, a carrier that is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). TracFone relies on Verizon’s cellular towers to provide customers with network coverage at a fraction of the price. The two companies operate in the United States of America, with millions of cell phone service users. Today I will focus on the Total wireless EBB.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) is a federal government initiative helping the people affected by Covid’19 with cheap communication plans. In short, the program provides a discount of up to $50 every month for broadband services for eligible customers. Furthermore, beneficiaries who live on qualifying Tribal lands can receive discounts of up to $75 per month toward broadband services.
To qualify for the Total Wireless Emergency Broadband Benefit, you are supposed to have a gross annual household income of 135 percent or below the figure. That is according to the federal government poverty guidelines. There are also other things that one can use to qualify for the program irrespective of the carrier offering the service. Remember that Total Wireless is just among the many telecommunication companies offering the service to eligible consumers.
How do I join Total Wireless
For sure, you have to become a user of Total Wireless before applying for the EBB benefit at the company. However, if you are not yet a Total Wireless member, you can join any time so long as you meet all the requirements. After all, signing up for the service is simple as you only need to fill out the fields with all the necessary information.
When you visit the Total Wireless sign-up page, you will need to enter various kinds of information. So, it is better you know now so that you can prepare yourself adequately. The following is the process of applying for the service.
- Enter our full names which include your first name, second name, and surname. If you do not have three names, you can enter your first and surname.
- Next, enter your company. If you have a business, you have to enter the company’s full name just as you have registered with your local authorities.
- Next, enter the phone number you are currently using. It does not matter whose carrier the phone is for.
- If you are an existing Total Wireless user and not yet create an account, you can enter your number in the field provided.
- After that, you will need to enter your email address and then choose your password. Repeat the password just to make sure that you can remember it correctly.
- Lastly, accept the terms and conditions and then submit the information for verification. You should receive further details on your email address.
You should remember that all the information you provide will be kept private and confidential and will not be utilized wrongly other than the intended purpose: to keep you in the system. From time to time, Total Wireless will use your email address to send you updates on phone plans and the current promotions to keep you updated. You will always know about the newest Total Wireless cell phone deals via email address.
If you do not want a lot of emails in your mailbox, you can opt out of their service at will and at any given time. However, be aware that by doing so, you will miss a lot of information concerning your account and the general service of the carrier.
What is the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB)
Many people are only aware of the lifeline program that caters to low-income families by giving them free government phones and discounts on their communication plans.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a temporary emergency program by the federal government. The benefits program is run by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) whereby it aims at helping families and households struggling to afford internet packages during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a new benefit and connects eligible households to critical healthcare services, jobs, virtual classrooms, etc.
As I mentioned earlier, you can get a discount of up to $50 every month for broadband services if you are among the eligible customers for a particular carrier. Also, the beneficiaries living on qualifying Tribal lands receive discounts of up to $75 per month toward broadband services. Additionally, a beneficiary can get an EBB free tablet, laptop, or desktop computer to use for various communication needs. However, you have to contribute more than $10 and less than $50 for the purchase price.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is almost similar to Lifeline, but it is different in that it is just temporary. Once the Covid’19 pandemic is over, the service will come to an end. Additionally, the service will terminate if the funds allocated to deal with the aid are over. Therefore, whichever comes earlier will put an end to the service. However, if you are a lifeline member, you will continue with your benefits even after the Covid’19 pandemic.
It is important to know that, also the Lifeline beneficiaries can apply for the service since it is allowed. Therefore, one will receive benefits for Lifeline and others for the EBB.
How do I apply for the Total Wireless Emergency Broadband Benefit
Now back to our today’s discussion about how you can apply for the Total Wireless Emergency Broadband Benefit. Well, the application for the program is purely online, and you can easily get started at the Total Wireless website. You will start by entering your full name, ZIP code, and email address, then select the options; “I have a phone number that I want to use with EBB,” or “I need a new phone number for EBB.”
The first step to applying for the benefit is determining whether you are qualified. Thousands of people need the service, quickly and there must be thorough scrutiny to check whether you should benefit from the aid. Otherwise, some people will pretend to be needed only to take what does not belong to them.
Qualification
Only one person per household should get the service. Others should benefit from the service given to their colleague. Remember, a household involves people living together in the same house. These could be college students, a mother and her children, father and children, and so on. A household may be qualified if they meet any of the following criteria.
- Is qualified to participate in the Lifeline program
- Is qualified to take part in the free and reduced-price lunch program.
- Has experienced a significant loss of income since February 29, 2020, when covid’19 broke out. The loss should be documented by furlough or layout notice, application for unemployment insurance benefits, or other similar documents.
- Has got a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year
- Meets the eligibility criteria for Total Wireless in our case or any other EBB service provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program
- You will not get the service until eligibility is verified.
Once you have qualified, you can apply online at the Total Wireless website. You will need to upload all the necessary documents as per the guidelines. You can also apply for the service at the Federal Communications Commission and choose Total Wireless as your service provider. After you have successfully applied, you can check the status of your application online when you visit to get an emergency roadband.
What will happen if the EBB program comes to an end
When Covid ‘19 ends, it means that things will resume to normal. Therefore, the program will come to an end. At Total Wireless, you will continue with the plan you enrolled in for your EBB at will. However, this time around, you will not get the government subsidy. You will therefore have to pay for the entire cost without the government subsidy. It appears shocking, but who says you will not remain poor forever
How will I know if the EBB program has ended
You should not be worried about how you will know that the program has ended. You will receive a notification on your email address or phone number.
What other services can I get at Total Wireless
There are numerous communication services that you can get at the company and not only the EBB program. For instance, you can get phones which you can buy to use with the carrier. Remember that you need any of the Total Wireless compatible phones to utilize various plans at the company. The carrier runs on Verizon’s 4G LTE network.
Total Wireless offers data, voice call minutes, and texts that you can use with your phone, tablet, or computer. You can also buy hotspot data that you can use to connect several devices.
Bottom line
Total Wireless is a telecommunication company owned by TracFone, a carrier that is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). The company is currently participating in the ACP program instead, and people can apply online at the company’s website as long as they qualify. The EBB program will run until the Covid’19 is over or when the funds allocated for the program are over, whichever comes earlier.