People looking for affordable internet connectivity options may currently apply for the U.S. government-sponsored Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), provided they fulfill specific eligibility requirements and income thresholds. That said, cheap internet may not be the only benefit they’ll get upon signing up.
As part of a larger plan to keep low-income Americans connected to the world wide web (and tangibly so), the ACP program strives to honor the legacy left by the Emergency Broadcast Benefit (EBB) – put into motion by the U.S. government during the apex of the Covid-19 pandemic – by giving away tablets and other similar gadgets.
_CITY COMMUNICATIONS_ is a US-based company that delivers a broad range of services and products nationwide, as well as being a leading ACP provider. As such, it can hand out free tablets to program beneficiaries, granting them ready access to mainline social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and a plethora of others.
If this sounds exciting to you, stick around to learn more!
About City Communications Free Tablet
Every free good offered by the government will have you jump through several hoops and face several challenges along the way (albeit not insurmountable or impossible to overcome).
In that sense, in order to get your City Communications free tablet, you must submit relevant documentation and undergo a meticulous screening process. Furthermore, the free tablet comes packaged with the ACP internet service and is not obtainable apart from it (even though there’s no impediment to using it with other networks).
Nevertheless, keep in mind that you must contribute a minimum amount, so it’s not entirely “free” in the practical sense of the term. As we speak, applicants must pay between $10 and $50 toward the total sale price.
Qualifying Guideline For City Communications ACP program
To qualify for the ACP program, your household income must be 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines _or lower. _Alternatively, a member of your household must satisfy one or more of the following conditions:
- Meet the criteria established by a participating provider to sign up for their existing low-income internet program.
- Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient
- Participate in any of the eligible federal assistance programs
- If they participate in one of the tribal programs, they must live on a qualifying tribal land.
What’s more, your household may be considered eligible if you have a child or dependent registered in the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program.
Apart from all those requirements we just listed. The candidate must:
- Be 18 years old or above
- Be authorized to make decisions regarding their household’s internet service provision
- Have a good internet connection in their area
Documents Need When Applying for a Free Tablet from City Communications
These are some of the documents you may be asked to provide when lodging your ACP and free tablet application via City Communications:
- Proof of income (e.g., a bank statement, pay slip, or tax return)
- Proof of residence
- Proof of ID
- A document showing that you meet any other eligibility requirements (e.g., a certificate issued by one of the federal assistance programs)
City Communications Free Tablet through ACP Application Process
To start your application, you must fill out a qualification form for the purposes of your ACP eligibility screening, providing:
- Your full name
- Your primary and alternative phone number
- Your birth date
- The last four digits of your SSN
- Proof of income document you’ll upload
- A scanned copy of your identification
- Your home address
This form is available at AffordableConnectivity.gov [https://www.affordableconnectivity.gov]. If you prefer to apply via ordinary mail, you can print the form and send it to the ACP Support Center’s P.O. box along with the corresponding household worksheet.
Alternatively, you can visit the City Communications’ website to complete your application form there.
To proceed, go to the City Communications website and, on their home page, locate the “What Is Affordable Connectivity Program” section and click on the “Apply Today” button just below.
Subsequently, the website will redirect you to a page containing a subscription form in which you should enter roughly the same details mentioned before (full name, phone number, etc.)
Once you’re deemed eligible, you’ll be capable of registering and selecting a plan (the government discount will then be applied to the monthly bill).
After approval, you should soon receive the package. Be mindful that it could take anywhere from 5 to 15 days before you can have a fully operational internet service.
Concerning the tablet, City Communications may ask you to pay the contribution amount beforehand. After payment is complete, they’ll ship it to the address you gave them.
Activation Process After Getting City Communications Free Tablet
As soon as you receive your tablet, you should probably plug it in first (because it will most likely not arrive with a fully-charged battery).
You can turn it on by holding the power button, which will prompt you to a configuration assistant, whereby you may set up your Wi-Fi, apps, and software updates.
To enjoy your data plan, you can activate mobile data on your device from its settings menu or notification panel. To illustrate, If you get an Android tablet such as the NUU (the latest free offering from City Communications), it’s as easy as following these two steps:
- Slide your finger towards the bottom from the top of the screen to access the panel buttons (located above the notifications). There, you should see a button with two vertical arrows pointing in opposite directions.
- Tap on that button, and the signal strength icon on your status bar should display an indicator next to it (usually arrows with the letter H+, 4G, or 5G just above), denoting that your tablet is currently sending and receiving mobile signals.
Types of Free Tablets You May Get From City Communications
As a City Communications customer, you could receive one of the following tablets, to name just a few examples:
- Alcatel Joy Tab
- Konnect ONE Moxee Tablet
- Samsung Galaxy Tab
- Apple iPad
- NUU Tablet
Other models may be available at the moment you file your application, but these are some of the most common.
Other Providers that Offer Tablets For Free
The list of providers is extensive, but we’ll name only a few:
- Q Link Wireless
- AirTalk Wireless
- Easy Wireless
- Simple Mobile
- US Mobile
- Straight Talk
- Ultra Mobile
- Consumer Cellular
- Unity Wireless/Go Unity Wireless
- Visible
- Total Wireless
- Cricket Wireless
- NewPhone Wireless
- Cintex Wireless
Benefits After Getting City Communications Free Tablet
When you obtain a City Communications free tablet and ACP plan, you’ll enjoy tons of advantages in exchange for little contribution money, including (but not reduced to):
- An up to $30 discount on your monthly internet bill (up to $75 if you are on eligible Tribal lands), courtesy of the government-funded ACP.
- Potential access to various City Communications’ quality-of-life features, such as Caller ID, more than 150 channels, and “Catch Up & On Demand” (depending on your selected plan).
- An expert technical support team available for you 24/7.
- An all-around gadget you can carry around comfortably without any hassle and which would allow you to, among other things: Play games, listen to music, watch videos, consume social media content, browse the web, and even accomplish work-related tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to receive a free tablet from City Communications?
As we said earlier, it normally takes from 5 to 15 days. Shipping times may be affected by lots of factors, such as market availability, shipping dates, and the recipient’s address.
What do I do if my free tablet from City Communications is lost or stolen?
Tablets are prone to storing sensitive data you wouldn’t want exposed to unwanted strangers, which is why losing your tablet due to theft or neglect could spell disaster for you, particularly if it were to land in the wrong hands.
In these instances, you always have the option to ask City Communications to deactivate your SIM card so that your tablet is rendered inoperable. This must be done as soon as you notice your tablet is missing so as to protect your data and privacy from imminent threats.
What happens if I move out of the eligible area after receiving a free tablet?
You can always avail yourself of your tablet, even if you recently moved to an area not covered by the ACP. In other words, you retain ownership of your City Communications tablet and won’t be forced to relinquish it for any reason whatsoever.
Can I use my own data plan with my free tablet from city communications?
You’re not bound to necessarily use your ACP network to connect your tablet to the internet. But, as expected, you won’t be allowed to use ACP services if you move abroad or to a non-ACP location.
Are there any restrictions on what I can do with my free tablet from city communications?
You shouldn’t encounter any restrictions on using your tablet as you please, provided you utilize it within reasonable legal limits.