Free or Affordable Technology

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Internet Services

Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Connect this program with PC for People for a larger discount. PC for People qualifications and application steps are listed below under the Affordable or Discounted Laptops heading. 

Qualifications:

You are eligible if you meet any one of the three qualifications below.

  • Your income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.  
  • You or someone in your household participates in a qualifying federal program
  • You meet the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband provider’s existing low-income internet program.

The Poverty Guidelines, the definition of a household, and a list of qualifying federal programs can be found here.

How to apply:


SonomaFi

SonomaFi is a WiFi hotspot lending program which enables Sonoma County Library cardholders to have free access to the internet through a hotspot and/or Chromebook loan program.  Devices are issued for a 21 day period.

Qualifications:

All Sonoma County Library cardholders qualify

How to apply:


California Connects Mobile Internet

California Connects is a mobile hotspot service that lets you stay connected to the internet in school, at home, and on the go. It is powered by Sprint and T-Mobile. The hotspot is $19.99 per month and a one-time charge of $99.99.

Qualifications:

  • Any student, faculty or staff member within any of the 114 California Community College campuses and 97 member institutions of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, the University of California or the California State University system are eligible for this program.

How to apply:

  • Make your purchase through CollegeBuys.org. Select your items, and once you check out, you will be taken to an academic verification page.
  • The academic verification needs to occur before your items ship. The allowable documents to verify your status as a student are:
    • Current Student ID Card
    • Current Class Schedule
    • Registration Receipt for the current semester
    • Letter of Enrollment on School Letterhead

 


laptop

Affordable or Discounted Laptops 

 

CollegeBuys 

CollegeBuys offers discounts of up to 85% on a wide-range of educational products exclusively for students (as well as teachers, faculty, and staff). Eligible users will be asked to submit verification of their student/teacher/faculty/staff status on the CollegeBuys website after checking out. 

Qualifications: 

  • Student, staff or faculty 

How to apply: 

  • When finalizing your purchase, you will be asked to submit academic proof

  • CollegeBuys uses a third-party verification company to verify customers’ eligibility for their products. You will be instantly notified whether your verification documentation has been accepted or denied. 

 

PC's for People

PCs for People provides refurbished computers to eligible customers for affordable prices.

Qualifications:

  • See eligibility guidelines here. Be sure to scroll the page to see the info in its entirety:
    • Are either at 200% of federal poverty level, or 60% of area median income.
    • OR can provide documentation of current enrollment in an income-based government assistance program (see guidelines linked above)

How to apply:

  • When finalizing your purchase, you will be asked to submit the required documentation (see eligibility guidelines link above) which includes photo identification and proof of income.

If you choose to submit the documentation separate for the purchase you may do so by email (this link is also listed on the eligibility guidelines page linked above).

Student Discounts with HP and Dell 

How to apply:

 

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Microsoft Office 365