Montgomery County has received a federal ECF grant to provide 40,000 computers for residents who do not have access to a computer and an affordable connectivity program is being offered too. Currently 1,432 Computers have been distributed. The County is using Eventbrite to create appointment tickets to manage computer pick-ups. There is a limit of one computer per person for Montgomery County residents at least 7 years old. Every person must have a County library card to create an appointment. You do not need to be a U.S. Citizen to receive a computer but you must be a Montgomery County resident. Computer pick-up events are limited to 200 people per event and more events will be continued to be added through September 2022. If you are with a non-profit organization providing support for low-income residents and want to arrange an event for your clients, please contact us at montgomeryconnects@montgomerycountymd.gov.
The computers are Dell 3100 14″ computers with an 11″ touchscreen that folds over for use as a tablet.
What is Needed to Get a Computer:
- You must register for an appointment to pick up a computer. The County uses this system to record who we provided the computer to, to remind you of your appointment, and to know how many computers to bring to a distribution site. The County asks for additional information to understand the income and race of people receiving computers and to seek funding to purchase more computers. Personal data is not shared with other government agencies. The County will use data to ensure only one computer is provided per person. The County reserves the right to prioritize providing computers to lower income residents if there is more demand than computers.
- You must certify you would lack access to a computer to meet your educational needs if you were not provided a computer by this program. You may use the computer for other purposes in addition to education, and education means any kind of learning including learning a language, learning to use the internet and a computer, looking up information online, and other learning purposes.
- You must have an email address to log into the computer the first time and register the computer warranty. The County will not provide technical support for the computer.
- You must have a library card number. You can sign for a library card in a library or get a digital library card in a few minutes here. You must have an email address to sign up for a digital library card.
- You must bring some form of photo identification when you pick-up the computer to demonstrate you are the person who is supposed to receive the computer. All children receiving computers must have a library card number and a school ID, bus pass, report card, or other form of photo identification. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to receive a computer.
How to Register for a Free Computer
You must have a library card number to use the form. You can get a library card at a library or click here for a digital library card.
- Select a date and time to pick up a computer. If there are no appointments available, please come back – the County will be adding more dates through September 2022.
- Enter contact information. The County uses this information to ensure we are providing one computer per County resident age 7 and older. You need an email address to activate the computer. We use your phone number or email to send a text or email to remind you of your appointment. Please use a street address not PO box. We use the address to determine where there is need in the County and to plan future events. Use Notes box if you need us contact someone else to remind you of your appointment.
- Type your MCPL card number in. We use this information to help track one computer per person. All recipients, including children must have a unique library card number.
- The federal grant that funded purchase of these computers requires all recipients to certify: “I would not have access to a computer for my educational needs if I was not provided a computer by this program.” THIS MUST BE TRUE AND YOU MUST ANSWER YES TO RECEIVE A COMPUTER. You can use the computer education and other purposes. Education can mean any form of learning, including languages, how to use computers and technology, looking up information online, etc.
- The County collects data about device ownership, income, enrollment in benefit programs, age, race, and ethnicity to prioritize computers for low-income residents and to use data to apply for more grant funding. We do not report your personal data to other government agencies or law enforcement, except that the County will use information as permitted by law if a person is trying to receive more than one computer.
Broadband Program Discounts:
For low-income families enrolled in other benefit programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, free school lunch, Pell grants, WIC, or SSI, other programs are available to provide a $45 discount off home broadband or mobile phone broadband service. Learn more about the broadband discount here.
For more information click here.
