Baltimore City to hand out 30,000 free Chromebook laptops

To distribute the Chromebooks, Baltimore City Information & Technology’s (BCIT) Office of Broadband & Digital Equity (BDE) has partnered with Enoch Pratt Free Library to serve as the City’s primary distribution partner.

In this role, Pratt Library will assist residents in verifying their eligibility and scheduling a pickup appointment at either its Central Library or Southeast Anchor Library locations. More distribution locations are expected to be added in the coming months.

“So much of the battle in addressing this issue is access and affordability, and with these 30,000 Chromebooks, our city is poised to help tackle both for so many families”

“Across the state, there are hundreds of thousands of Marylanders whose entire economic future will be either limited – or unlocked – by whether or not they have access to affordable internet,” said Jake Day, secretary, Maryland DHCD.

“The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development is proud to work with Baltimore City and Pratt Library to distribute 30,000 devices to get more Marylanders online – a crucial step in our work to close the digital divide.”

Major equity gaps

“This is a huge step forward in further addressing one of the major equity gaps experienced by many of our residents – affordability,” added Kenya Asli, director Kenya of BDE.

“With internet assistance programmes like the Affordable Connectivity programme and the Maryland Emergency Broadband Benefit subsidy already in place, and now the availability of Chromebooks, residents with the greatest need have viable means of fully participating in a digital society.”

In addition to scheduling an appointment at one of Pratt Library’s distribution locations, eligible households will have opportunities to secure a Chromebook during various distribution events hosted at local community sites throughout Baltimore City.