Communications Policy and Regulation Division

CONTACT INFORMATION: Open during regular business hours 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
703-324-5902 TTY 711
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 433
Fairfax, VA 22035
Rick Ellrod
Director

Department Resources

Internet Support Offered by Cable Providers during COVID-19 Pandemic

Information on the Federal Communications Commission’s Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program can be found here.

Comcast, Cox and Verizon have announced programs* that may assist all residents, especially low-income residents, and small businesses during the COVID -19 pandemic. This may include special rates for low-income households, suspending disconnections for an inability to pay, and waiving late fees. County residents seeking assistance from the companies on this basis should make specific reference to COVID-19 or the coronavirus pandemic.

COMCAST

Comcast (Xfinity) internet COVID-19 assistance (Reston only): Comcast has extended through June 2021, 60 days of free internet service to new eligible Internet Essentials customers. In addition, Comcast will continue to waive, through June 30, 2021, the requirement that customers not have a past due balance with Comcast to qualify for the free offer.

Low-income customers:  Internet Essentials information, or dial 1-855-846-8376 English, 1-855-765-6995 Spanish. Program includes $9.95 per month internet service for qualifying households. May offer free internet service for 60 days to new Internet Essentials customers. Effective Mar 1, 2021, Comcast is doubling the program’s internet download speed to 50 Mbps and increasing the upstream speed to 5 Mbps for all new and existing customers at no additional cost

Regular Comcast customer assistance during COVID–19 pandemic: This assistance may include waivers for an inability to pay by the due date, for Comcast subscribers, and free Comcast Wi-Fi spots available to all Reston franchise area residents (including non-Xfinity internet subscribers.)

COX

Cox internet COVID-19 assistance (throughout County except for Reston)

Low-income customers: Read about Connect2Compete or call 855-222-3252.

Cox Communications will temporarily double the download speeds to 50Mbps from 25Mbps for its Connect2Compete service through the end of the 2020-21 school year. This increase will be effective Friday, Dec. 11, 2020 through June 30, 2021.

Program includes $9.95 per month internet service for qualifying households.

Through June 30, 2021, Cox is suspending late fees and extending payment relief offerings for customers in the Connect2Compete that express an inability to pay due to pandemic hardships.

Details of additional support offerings can be found here.

For Connect2Compete application, ID is required by Cox. Forms of ID that can be given in lieu of a Social Security number:

  • Group 1-Picture ID
    • State issued driver's license
    • Valid (non-expired) passport
    • State issued ID card
    • Military ID
  • Group 2-Non-Picture ID
    • Current lease agreement in the account holder's name and address
    • Social Security card
    • Current original utility bill in the account holder's name and address

Regular Cox customer assistance during COVID-19 pandemic:

Internet Starter 10 ($29.99) for new customers offer expires March 31, 2021

VERIZON

Verizon internet COVID-19 assistance (throughout the County)

Low-income customers:

New and also existing low-income Fios customers who qualify through Lifeline can enroll in Verizon’s “fios-forward" internet service, which offers internet speeds of 200/200 Mbps starting at $19.99 per month plus tax, with total savings of up to $20 per month. Customers must first apply to Lifeline (a Federal program) to qualify for these discounted service costs from Verizon. Click on the Lifeline discount and service details links below to apply to Lifeline or see the attached PDF documents regarding Lifeline and Lifeline application forms.

FCC Lifeline PDF Forms:

Verizon Lifeline program information and application or dial 1-800-837-4966.

Starting July 1, 2020, Verizon customers who previously signed up during Verizon's pledge to keep them connected (which expired on June 30, 2020) may be automatically enrolled in Verizon's Stay Connected repayment program to provide repayment options to stay connected.

The Federal Communications Commission also extends through June 30, 2021 its waiver of the Lifeline program’s requirement that consumers seeking to demonstrate income-based qualification for the Lifeline program must provide at least three consecutive months of documentation to confirm their income.

*Fairfax County does not guarantee information displayed reflects the cable providers’ latest rates or offerings. Offers shown may expire or may be subject to change as matters develop.

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