Verizon announced Monday that high-speed internet will be offered at a lower price to qualified low-income customers.
Fios Forward debuted in April for new customers but it’s now also available for existing customers for $19.99 per month plus tax, Verizon said in a news release.
Verizon said the program will be available in the Baltimore area.
The internet program provides reliable high-speed internet with no data caps that “breaks the mold” of affordable internet, the company said. Customers who qualify for Lifeline, a government assistance program that offers discounts to qualified low-income individuals, are eligible for the program.
Customers can also sign up for a “Mix & Match” program for even faster internet and continue to save $20 per month.
The Evening Sun
“Our guiding principle is that we create the networks that move the world forward. Far too many families will be left behind if their home Internet can’t keep pace with today’s demands for learning and work,” Frank Boulben, SVP-Consumer Marketing & Product at Verizon said in a news release. “We know the impact connectivity has on advancement, so we’re extending Fios Forward to support digital inclusion and help create opportunity with affordable access to high-performing broadband Internet.”
To apply for the discount, customers can go to Verizon’s website to apply for Lifeline and once accepted into the program, choose an internet plan and call Verizon to confirm the discount.
Comcast recently announced that Xfinity internet customers across the country will face fees for going over a certain amount of data if they’re not enrolled in an unlimited plan.
Hundreds of thousands of people in Maryland don’t have access to high-speed internet. In Baltimore, close to 100,000 households — more than 40% of households — lack access, an Abell Foundation report found.
About half of Black and Hispanic households in Baltimore City don’t have broadband, while that number is about 27% for white city residents, according to the report.
Baltimore Sun reporter Ben Leonard contributed to this article.