The Ministry of Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture of the Government of the Canary Islands, headed by Migdalia Machín, through the Canary Agency for Research, Innovation and the Information Society (ACIISI), has published the call for the Digital Social Bonus, an initiative whose objective is to facilitate access to internet connection services for vulnerable groups.
This line of aid has an economic endowment of 1,566,720 euros, framed in the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, financed by the European Union through the Nex Generation EU program.
This call seeks to improve the connectivity of, at least, 6,528 residents in the Canary Islands, thus contributing to reducing social inequalities in access to technology. The Digital Bonus is aimed at residents in the archipelago who, at the time of application, are beneficiaries of the Canary Insertion Benefit, the Canary Income of Citizenship, the Minimum Vital Income or whose annual income does not exceed 16,800.00 euros.
Migdalia Machín highlighted the relevance of this initiative and stressed that: "The Digital Social Bonus is a key tool to ensure that no Canary Islander is excluded from access to connectivity. With these actions, we reinforce our commitment to social equity and the reduction of technological, generational and territorial gaps. We aspire to make the digital transformation reach everyone and for the Canary Islands to become a benchmark for digital inclusion in Europe."
The bonus, which will have a total amount of 240 euros, will be distributed in twelve consecutive monthly payments, applying a monthly discount of 20 euros on the internet connection service bill. This discount will be managed by the program's collaborating operators, ensuring that beneficiary families can maintain their broadband connection at a significantly reduced cost.
Applications for subsidies may be submitted continuously from the day following the publication of the call in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC) and until October 15, 2024. It is reminded that only one digital bonus per person and family unit may be granted, regardless of the number of members.
This action is part of action line 2 of the Capacity Building lever, one of the three that support the Digital Agenda of the Canary Islands 2025 (ADCAN25). The Capacity Building lever focuses on the transformation of the regional development model, with a social approach committed to reducing social, generational, territorial and gender gaps.
For more information, those interested can access the ACIISI website or consult the procedure on the electronic headquarters, available from the day following its publication in the BOC.
