Free Chromebook laptop computers will be available to Carroll County residents who meet poverty-related eligibility requirements until the end of April or until supplies run out.
The Carroll County government secured just over $1 million in state grant funding via the Maryland Connected Devices Program, under the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, to purchase 5,000 Chromebooks for county residents.
The Carroll Technology and Innovation Council will be responsible for distributing the computers. According to Jay Uebel, Carroll’s broadband project manager, each Chromebook cost $199, and the council will receive a stipend of $6 per computer to cover distribution costs.
“Technology and access to technology are both important resources in most aspects of our lives today, and these Chromebooks will provide a gateway to service for many Carroll residents,” District 2 Commissioner Ken Kiler said in a news release. “As we continue to work to bring more internet access to underserved and unserved areas, we are thankful to the state and thrilled that this grant helps connect 5,000 households to internet service.”
Anyone whose income is at or below twice the federal poverty level is eligible for a free computer. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in 2024, the federal poverty level for an individual is $15,060; for a family of two, $20,440; and for a family of four, $31,200. So, to qualify for a free Chromebook, an individual would need to earn $30,120 or less annually; a family of two would need to earn $40,880 or less annually; and a family of four would need to earn $62,400 or less annually.
Proof of eligibility and Carroll County residency are required, and Chromebooks are limited to one laptop per household. Molly Sherman, Carroll Technology and Innovation Council’s digital equity officer and executive assistant, said those who receive supplemental nutritional assistance program (SNAP) benefits are also eligible.
County residents are also eligible for a free computer if someone in their household receives federal public housing assistance, supplemental security income, veterans pension and survivors benefit or lifeline, free or reduced-price school meals, tribal-specific support, is a Pell grant recipient, or is a part of their broadband provider’s low-income program, according to the Carroll tech council website.
Around 10,000 Carroll residents would be eligible to receive a free Chromebook through the program. According to Uebel, purchasing 5,000 Chromebooks for the county made sense because some eligible residents live in the same household.
“Particularly after the [COVID-19] pandemic, we realized the importance of digital equity,” Sherman said. “The pandemic exacerbated inequalities throughout the state, so there’s been a big push to help people get access to the tools and skills that they need to get online and access all the resources that live there.”
Chromebooks are similar to other models of laptop computers, and are based on Google’s operating system. According to Uebel, this means they are primarily used for web browsing, as the device will not run Microsoft Windows programs. However, alternatives to programs such as Microsoft Office can be accessed through a web browser using Google Apps.
In many cases, those without computers use their phones for education and career training assignments, which Sherman said puts them at a significant disadvantage. A Chromebook can be “a life-changing piece of technology for people seeking education, looking for work, or trying to access healthcare,” Sherman said.
Residents not eligible to receive a free computer may borrow one of 225 Chromebooks owned by the Carroll County Public Library system.
The free computers will be distributed at the following locations:
- Westminster Elks Lodge, 538 Gorsuch Road, Westminster, 1-5 p.m., Feb. 17
- Carroll County Public Library’s Taneytown branch, 10 Grand Drive, 3-7 p.m., Feb. 26
- Carroll County Public Library’s North Carroll branch, 2255 Hanover Pike, Hampstead, 3-7 p.m., Feb. 29
- Carroll Nonprofit Center, 255 Clifton Blvd., Westminster, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., every Friday until the end of April
“What’s powerful about giving someone their own computer is what having a personal device means,” Sherman said. “You have more control of when and where you can access the services that live online, there’s more data capabilities, and there’s more security.”
Nearly 300 computers had been distributed as of Feb. 2, Sherman said. Distribution has increased in recent weeks, she added, as various local organizations with direct regular contact with impoverished communities have become valuable distribution partners.
“We were struggling with awareness at the beginning,” Sherman said, “but now that we have partners who have been providing direct service to low-income families and individuals, I think we’re going to get more attendance at these events. As of now I wouldn’t expect a shortage, but I think we’re heading in that direction because we’re getting more strategic about where to share our advertisement and where to go to make sure that we’re being seen.”
The Chromebook distribution project marks the first collaborative effort from the Carroll Digital Equity Coalition, Sherman said, which includes county government agencies, nonprofit organizations, Carroll Community College, McDaniel College and the Carroll Technology and Innovation Council.
The Carroll Digital Equity Coalition is still in development, according to Uebel, but he said the coalition will likely play an important role in helping the county reach its goal of 100% internet connectivity within the next five years or sooner, including internet access for rural areas.
“It’s nice to give someone a piece of technology that they can form a relationship with,” Sherman said. “It’s something that we refer to occasionally as the right to goof off, and that comes from having the skills and the confidence to use your device, and I think that’s more possible when you know it’s yours. You can begin to create a bit of a world on there, when you know all the ins-and-outs of your computer.”
