Montgomery Connects is the County’s digital equity and inclusion program. Our goal is for every resident and business to be part of our shared digital world. We work to achieve this by helping people to get access to computer devices, needed technology training, affordable home broadband services and subsidies, and public WiFi access points. Montgomery Connects is powered by the Department of Technology & Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS) and part of the Office of Broadband Programs.


Computers | Affordable Connectivity Program | Rural Broadband
Senior Planet MoCo | MoCoNet
 

What is Montgomery Connects?

Watch this short video about Montgomey Connects to learn about what we do, what we offer, and the great things we've been doing to benefit residents in need throughout the County.

Computer For You

Successfully leaping the digital divide requires having a computer available at home. Having a fully capable computer at home allows residents to access online education, seek new career paths, conduct telehealth sessions and more. The Computer for You program by Montgomery Connects is currently providing up to 50,000 new loaner Chromebook laptop computers to lower-income Montgomery County residents who do not currently have one for educational purposes.

family using computer
family using computer

ACP: Free & Discounted Internet Here

Successfully leaping the digital divide requires access to affordable, high speed broadband at home. Montgomery Connects is helping residents to enroll into the federal government’s ACP monthly broadband subsidy benefit program. ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program from the FCC) makes available up to $30 per month for qualified residents to apply to new or existing internet services. (The state of Maryland makes available an additional $15 per month, bringing the total benefit to $45 per month).

Rural: Closing the Last Mile Gap

Montgomery Connects aims to ensure that all homes and businesses located in the county’s rural Ag Reserve have access to high-speed broadband at home. Under the Montgomery Connects initiative, the Ag Reserve has been surveyed and gaps in broadband infrastructure have been identified. Montgomery Connects partners with both federal, state and private internet service providers to fund and construct the fiber needed to close the last mile broadband gap.

barn on a farm
a senior using an ipad

Senior Planet Montgomery

Successfully leaping the digital divide requires every resident to have the digital literacy skills and confidence to successfully navigate the internet and use popular apps such as Zoom, Google work suite and more. Senior Planet Montgomery, a joint initiative between Montgomery Connects and powered by OATS of AARP, offers both online and in person classes for adults ages 60 and over to learn new online skills. Training classes include how to save money, use video conferencing and Google Office products, online athletic classes and more.

MoCoNet

MoCoNet is an innovative initiative of Montgomery Connects in which Montgomery County constructs and brings free, high-speed internet over fiber to individual affordable housing communities. Features include in-home WiFi connectivity, security and other enhanced services, all powered in a partnership with Plume, a company that shares the County’s digital equity focus.

woman in wheelchair using cpu