How Do I Get A Laptop With The EBB Program – Today in this article we will be providing you all the detailed information on How To Get a Laptop With The EBB Program. The Internet has become a vital medium for exchanging information all over the world. It has been a revolutionary change and a high amount of people are highly dependent on the internet. The recent pandemic has made people understand the importance of the internet as work and education have all been switched remotely. From virtual meetings to education classes everything was possible because of the internet. The people of the United States of America are finding it difficult to attend virtual meetings as they do not have laptops or computers with high speed internet. Most of the people are unable to afford a laptop or computer and it is also difficult for them to pay internet bills.
If you have low income or no income it can be very difficult for you to buy a laptop or pay for the internet services. The government of the United States of America has understood the situation and thus funded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide emergency broad benefits (ebb) programs to the low income or no income individuals. The government is also providing free government laptops and internet services to the people so that they can stay connected. However, there are some eligibility criteria that are needed to be fulfilled to qualify for the program. If you are looking for a laptop with an ebb program then you are at the right place. We will be providing all the ways that can help you to get a laptop with the ebb program.
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Highlights of this Post
What is an EBB program?
The full form for EBB is Emergency Broadband Benefit Program; the program is initiated by the federal government to help the low income and moderate income families by providing them internet connectivity. There are a lot of students in this type of family, who suffer because they do not have internet access. The students are unable to submit their assignments or attend online classes as they are unable to stay connected. Thus, the government has offered Federal Communication Funding (FCC) to start an emergency broadband benefit program for the people who are unable to afford internet services. It is an initiative from the government to help the low income families with internet connection. The families that have low income can easily qualify for the program.
The EBB program offers a one time discount for owning a laptop and also provides additional discount on broadband connections. In today’s world the internet is not a luxury , it has become a necessity for most people. During the pandemic lockdown was imposed and everything was shut down. The internet played a huge role during pandemic as it helped us to stay connected and virtual meetings were still possible because of it. A lot of students could carry on their studies because of the internet. However, on the other side a lot of students and people were unable to afford a laptop and internet services. But don’t worry as there are many assistance programs similar to the EBB program especially designed for the low income families.
How does the EBB program work?
Emergency broadband connection benefits the households in several ways. The federal government has organized few free broadband programs for low income families so that they can easily avail free internet. The main objective of this program is to connect everyone with the internet. There are two facilities in this program. One is having your own laptop or device like this. Second is to get assistance to pay monthly internet bills. Both the programs are designed by the federal government in the USA and they ensure every person in low income families gets regular internet access. You will get $50 per month to pay your internet bills. For tribal lands, the amount will be $75 per month.
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This program is for low income families who need wireless connections, internet services, satellite connections in television etc. You can also get free laptops or devices from EBB programs. There are families who don’t have enough money to buy laptops. You will one time offer to get free laptops if you are a low income family. One time discount programs will allow you to get the opportunity of a $100 discount on laptops, phones etc. You can check your local broadband connection provider as well. You just need to give $10 to $150 when you are buying the laptops. The prices of laptops and such devices are limited. You can also get costly devices under this program as well.
Eligibility Requirements for the EBB Program Free Laptop
You can understand that everyone cannot qualify for the program. The FCC mainly prioritizes those households who are unable to get internet services because of low income or no income. The families have been struggling as they lost their jobs and finding it difficult to pay for the internet services for their kid’s education. To qualify for the program you need to meet the eligibility criteria that is set under this program. If you are already getting any assistance and benefits from a government program then you can easily get qualified for this program. However, to get assistance from the program you need to fulfill a few eligibility criteria. Some of the eligibility requirements has been listed below:
- You should be having an income at or below 135 % according to the federal poverty guidelines.
- If you are already receiving Pell grants in the current year.
- If you have qualified already in other government benefit programs like Lifeline, Medicaid, SNAP etc.
- You are going through a difficult situation after losing your job recently.
- Other low-cost offerings.
- You are approved for the program to get free reduced school lunches under the breakfast program by the federal government.
However, you should note that disabled and senior people are mainly prioritized to get assistance from different government programs. Apart from that the program also aims to help the people who have low income and are going through a difficult phase. If you are senior or disabled, you can try explaining to them about it and why you need a laptop to get connected. Your application will be only considered if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Documents That Are Required To Apply for the EBB program laptop
To apply for your laptop, you need to submit copies of your necessary documents to show that you meet the eligibility criteria. The documents that are needed to apply for the program has been listed below:
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- Proof of your income. (You can produce previous years tax return documents)
- Social Security Benefits Statement
- Lifeline program membership card
- Pension or Retirement Statement of Benefits
- Veterans Administration Benefit Statement
- Workmen’s compensation statement of benefits
Few Broadband Providers That Offers Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program
Once you qualify for the EBB program laptop, you need to be very careful while picking up the broadband provider. Those providers that are participating in the EBB program are only eligible. We have provided a list of broadband providers that offer EBB laptops to the customers that have qualified for the program.
Cox Communication
Cox Communication is a well known broadband provider in the United States. Cox Communication has participated in the EBB program offering services to the qualified consumers. They have partnered with the EBB program and are offering a one time discount that ranges upto $100 to the qualified users. You can easily get a laptop from the EBB program as it offers a huge discount. Cox Communication has also partnered with PCs for People , so that they provide laptops to the consumers widely.
PCs for People
PCs for people is another well known organization and is the most reliable service provider that has partnered with the EBB program. The organization is offering the eligible customers various benefits through the EBB program. They also provide an additional discount of around $50 to the eligible customers on their internet services. Apart from that they also provide a one-time discount of an amount of $100 for getting EBB laptops from their organization. However, you need to meet the eligibility criteria to qualify for the program. We have listed the eligibility criteria below:
- You have already enrolled in a government assistance program.
- You need to have a government source of income and that must be below 200% of the federal poverty guideline.
If you meet these two basic eligibility criteria , you can easily apply for the program. The documents that are needed to qualify for the program has been listed below:
- Formal Student OR an veteran id card
- Your Passport
- State Id card or your driver’s license
- Details of current working organization ( Organization’s identity card)
You should also remember that the EBB program does not accept a few of the documents. So, it is useless sending those documents to them. The list of documents that are rejected by them has been stated below:
- Handwritten Documents.
- Screenshot of EBT app.
- Medicare Participation.
- Deposits records or bank statements.
- A tax return file where the applicant is listed as dependent.
- Pay Stubs are not accepted.
- W-2 forms are not accepted.
Once you fill up the application form, you can visit the official website of PCs for people and upload it there or you can also email it at [email protected] . If you want to fax them the application forms at 651-666-1045.
Also Read : Free Laptops For College Students
Vista Beam
Vista Beam is another well known organization that has participated in the EBB program. Vista Beam is offering their services and laptops in states like Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska. The organization is providing a onetime discount of around $100 on laptops, desktop computers and tablets to the consumers using the EBB program. However, you should note that an amount varying from $10 to $50 should be paid by you before utilizing the program. But before you have to qualify for the EBB program or else you will not be able to avail the benefits.
You also need to provide all the information that includes name, email, tribal id, date of birth, primary address, phone number, postal code, school information and company id card. Once you qualify for the program you will get your laptop from Microsoft Airband or PCs for People as Vista Beam is already a partner with both of these companies.
List of States That Gets Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program Laptop
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Maine
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Features That Must Be Check While Choosing EBB Program Laptop
We need to be aware of some features while choosing the EBB program laptop. We have listed the features, go through it to have an prior idea on it.
Size of the laptop
Size of the laptop is an important factor and you need to be aware before choosing your EBB laptop. However, you might want a big size laptop but in practical life you need a small sized laptop which can be easily carried from one place to another. It is better for you to get a laptop that is small and thin. The best thing about small laptops is that they are portable and can be easily carried.
Ram
Don’t fall for the beauty or design of the laptop while selecting your EBB laptop. The external features are important but the performance of the laptop is mainly based on the internal components. Ram is one of the most important components that will increase the speed of the laptop and also perform heavy tasks without any lags. If the gigabyte of ram is higher, your performance and speed of the laptop will drastically increase.
Screen
You should also be aware of the screen when getting your EBB laptop. Most laptop users spend several hours looking at the screen, so it is important to get such a laptop that offers a quality screen and will be soothing to the eyes. It is also important that color production of the laptop is good, so you can easily view the available content.
Battery
It is important for the laptop to have high battery capacity. So, you can run the laptop for many hours on a single charge. It will be more beneficial for you if fast charging ability is supported by your battery. So, it will be wise for you to choose a laptop that has a high milliamp hours( mAh) battery hence it will last for a longer period.
Warranty
While you are selecting your Emergency Broadband Benefits (EBB) program laptop, you should be aware of the warranty that is provided to you. A warranty will help you to return your product or get it repaired without incurring any fee on it. You should also research whether the laptop has a money-return period from the particular seller.
Some Other Factors That Should Be Considered While Selection the EBB Program
There are also some other factors you need to award while selecting the EBB program providers.
Stock Availability
You should select an EBB program laptop provider who has a wide collection of laptop models, so it will be easier for you to choose from them. The best thing is that you will be getting your preferred brand laptop from the provider.
Coverage
It is important to check out the operating area of that particular provider while choosing your EBB provider. You need to make sure that the EBB provider is available in your area. PCs for people is very well known and mostly available in most of the states in the United States of America.
Customer Service
It is important for you to look for assistance in case of any difficulty. So, you should choose an EBB program provider who will offer you assistance in case of any problems. Thus it is important for the laptop provider to have supportive customer service. The main priority of the customer service should be the customers and they must be responsive towards them.
How Can I Apply for the EBB program?
Once you are eligible for households, you can start your application process. If you are an eligible household, you can apply for the program by visiting the participating provider and getting detailed information about their service plans. The first thing you need to look at is that your provider is already participating in the program and thus you can call them to know all about the application process. If you do not want to apply online, you can surely visit their office and apply physically. The authority of that participating broadband provider will guide you the whole process and also help you in completing the process so you are able to get the benefits as soon as possible.
If you are unable to visit the office of the participating broadband provider, you can try applying for the program online. The online process is quite fast and straightforward, it will surely save your valuable time. You can complete the whole application process by sitting at your home. First of all you need to visit GetEmergencyBroadband.org to find all the participating broadband providers near your location. After that you need to check out the plans of those participating broadband providers and choose the one which is suited for you. After choosing your desired participating broadband provider with plans your application process will be completed. If you are unable to follow the procedures you can simply call on 833-511-0311 to get a mail application. You need to submit all the copies of your supporting documents to Emergency Broadband Support Center, PO Box 7081, London, KY 40742. Once you qualify for the program you will receive a notice and after that the eligible households can directly contact the emergency broadband benefit to get the service plan.
Ways To Get a Free Laptop from the EBB Program
As we have already stated that there are some processes that are needed to be followed to get started with the EBB program free laptop. However, it is important to get every information about the program before applying for it. There are also a few processes that need to be completed to get a free laptop from the EBB program.
Meeting the eligibility requirements
It is important to meet the eligibility requirements to qualify for the program. There are some people who can easily qualify for the program as they have low income and are unable to afford to get a new laptop. Once you meet the eligibility requirements, you can avail the benefits of the program.
Getting started with the application process
Once you meet all the eligibility requirements, it is time to get started for the application process. However, you should note that there are two different processes: one is online and other one is offline. If you are applying online, you just need to visit the EBB website and see the list of participating broadband providers in your area. You need to visit GetEmergencyBroadband.org and you will find out all the information about it.
Approval
Once you have successfully applied for the EBB program free laptop. You just need to wait for their approval. Once you are approved you will be able to avail the benefits of the program. However, you will also receive a notification once you are approved for the program. They will provide you with a voucher and that can be used for purchasing a new laptop.
Redeem the voucher
After you receive your voucher, it’s time to redeem it to purchase a new laptop in an electric shop. However, you should understand the voucher can only cover a portion of the laptop’s price and you have to pay the rest of the amount.
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you with all the information on How To Get A Laptop With The EBB Program. As we already know that a laptop is a costly device and most people are unable to afford one. So, if you are unable to buy this device, you can try the EBB program free laptop. To get more information on it, you need to visit the federal communication commission and broadband providers. In this article we have already provided all the information on the EBB program that will be very helpful for you. This initiative by the government has helped a lot of students in pursuing their education. The EBB laptops have been very helpful for the households or students that are unable to afford them. However, you should meet the EBB eligibility requirement to qualify for the program and once you meet the criteria, you can easily apply for the laptop. You also need to submit all the related documents confirming that you meet the eligibility criteria. If you find this article useful please forward to someone who is searching for EBB laptops. Have a great day !
Frequently Asked Questions
We have listed some most frequently asked questions that can help you in providing more information on EBB program free laptops. So, you can go through these questions and answers to get detailed information about it.
How to sign up for the emergency broadband benefit?
To get the assistance from emergency broadband benefits, it is important for you to sign up for the program. Only the eligible household can sign up for the program by visiting their website at GetEmergencyBroadband.com. You can enroll yourself for the program on this website. You can also visit fcc.gov to get additional information about it.
Will I qualify for the emergency broadband benefits as I have already qualified for the lifeline benefits?
If you are receiving benefits from the lifeline program then you meet the eligibility requirements. However, you should check the list of participating broadband providers that are offering EBB programs and free laptops. If your broadband provider is not participating in the program then you will be unable to get the EBB benefits.
How do I know the broadband providers that are participating in the EBB program?
There are a number of broadband providers that participate in the EBB program free laptops. They are mainly participating in the program to help the community. To know about the broadband benefits providers you can visit ffc.gov to get all the information on it. In the website you will also find the list of participating broadband providers and their service plans.
What is the benefit amount that is provided to the residents of tribal land?
The benefit amount that is provided to the residents of tribal land amounts to %75. The amount is provided to cover the cost of the internet, so that they can operate on the online platforms. You have any queries, you should visit getemergencybroadband.org and you will find every information about tribal lands over there.
How to choose the right laptop from Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB)?
Once you are eligible for the program, you will receive an EBB program free laptop. However, before getting the laptop you must check out the screen, disk drive, operating system, warranty, hard disk, ram and battery capacity. You should all check out the features of the laptop, so that you can use it flawlessly without any lags.
Does AT & T participate in the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program?
Yes, AT&T has already participated in the program. It is one of the most popular broadband providers that provides various types of internet services. Apart from internet services, they also provide cable service.
Are the EBB laptops offered for free?
No, the EBB laptops are not offered for free. They will be providing you a onetime discount of $100 and the remaining amount must be covered by yourself. If you are looking for absolutely free laptops then this is not the place for you.
What kinds of laptops are available in the EBB program?
You can find a variety of laptops from the EBB program. However, it totally depends on the provider you are choosing. They offer laptops like HP Spectre X 360 which has 16 gigabytes of ram and a powerful battery. You can also find Acer Spin 5 Convertible offering a powerful battery that lasts upto 15 hours. Microsoft Surface Laptop is also available and offers a display size of 13.5 inch running on Windows 10 which can be easily carried. Another laptop that is offered is the Asus Zenbook 13 Ultra Slim having a stunning design, light weight, portable and long lasting battery that can work more than 20 hours non-stop.