You can get a free tablet from Access Wireless under the Affordable Connectivity Program if you are a low -income person and meet some criteria. In the following article, I discuss every step about how you can get the free tablet from Access Wireless and some other things related to it.
Steps to Get Access Wireless Free Tablet
You have to follow these steps to get a free Access Wireless tablet:
- Apply for the free tablet from Access Wireless under the Government initiative, the Affordable Connectivity Program.
- The Authority will verify your application and may take the decision to approve it or reject it.
- If the authority approves your application , then you will get a voucher from the Government that you may redeem for an almost free tablet from your preferred provider(Here Access Wireless).
- If the authority rejects your application , then you can reapply for the free tablet.
Eligibility Criteria For Free Tablet From Access Wireless Under The Affordable Connectivity Program
We can evaluate your eligibility for a free tablet from Access Wireless under the Affordable Connectivity Program in two different ways. These are: Your Income Based Eligibility and Your Program Participation Based Eligibility. In the upcoming section we discuss both types of eligibility.
- Income Based Eligibility: If your or your household’s annual income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline, then you or the household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
- Program Participation based Eligibility: If you or any member of your household participates in or takes benefits from certain government assistance programs, then you or the household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program. The government assistance programs are as follows:
- Lifeline.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
- Medicaid.
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA).
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit.
- Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program
- Receiving a Federal Pell Grant Award in the current award year.
- Meets the eligibility criteria for Access Wireless’s existing low-income internet program.
- Households located on qualifying Tribal lands may also qualify based on participation in one of the following Tribal assistance programs:
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Head Start (only households meeting the income qualifying standard)
- Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF).
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).
If anyone has one of the above mentioned eligibility ( Income based or Program Participation Based Eligibility), then he/she or the household will be eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Required Documents For The Affordable Connectivity Program
You need documents to submit as proof of your eligibility for the program. These documents will show your income status, age, emancipation status, Program participation status, your identity, address, proof that you are a living person and also proof of your Social Security Number.
In the upcoming section we discuss the various documents that you need to prove your eligibility for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
- You need to submit the following official documents to confirm your identity.
- Valid government, military, state, or Tribal ID.
- Birth Certificate.
- U.S. Driver’s license.
- Passport.
- Certificate of U.S. Citizenship.
- Permanent Resident Card or Green Card.
- You need to submit the following official documents to prove your age or emancipation status:
- A valid ID.
- Passport.
- Birth certificate, or
- Emancipation certificate.
- You need to submit the following official documents to verify your address:
- Driver’s license or another valid government, state, or Tribal ID.
- Utility bill.
- Mortgage or lease statement.
- Most recent W-2 or tax return.
- You need to submit any of the following official documents to demonstrate your household income:
- Previous year’s state, federal, or Tribal tax return
- Current income statement from your employer or paycheck stub
- Social Security statement of benefits
- Veterans Administration statement of benefits
- Unemployment or Worker’s Compensation statement of benefits
- Divorce decree, child support award, or an equivalent official document displaying your income
- Retirement/pension statement of benefits
- You need to submit any of the following official documents to confirm your enrollment in certain government assistance programs:
- Benefit award letter.
- Approval letter.
- Statement of benefits.
- Benefit verification letter.
- Tribal Land Resident: If you are a Tribal land resident , then you may qualify through Tribal land programs, such as:
- Tribal Head Start
- Tribal TANF
- The Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
You also need to provide documents to prove your Social Security Number and also submit documents to prove that you are alive.
Note: The Affordable Connectivity Program will stop accepting new applications and enrollments on February 7, 2024. So consumers must be approved and enrolled with a service provider by 11:59 p.m ET on February 7th to receive the ACP benefits. The existing ACP beneficiaries will continue to receive their ACP benefits for at least April 2024. This date is an estimate and may change.
Application Process to Get Access Wireless Free Tablet
You can apply for a free tablet from Access Wireless in several ways. These are: Apply Via Access Wireless Website, apply Online, or , apply via mail.
Apply Via Access Wireless Website
You can apply for a free tablet from Access wireless website. To apply, you may:
- Log in to : https://www.accesswireless.com/ .
- On the homepage enter your Zip Code and click on Apply Now.
- Follow the onscreen instructions and complete the application process.
Apply Online
You can apply online for the Affordable Connectivity Program in the following process:
- At first go to the ACP website at: “getinternet.gov/apply?ln=RW5nbGlzaA%3D%3D“
- Then click on the “Apply ” button.
- Now, sign in to your account. If you don’t have an account, then create one.
- Now complete the application by following the onscreen instructions.
- Now, upload eligibility documents.
- Submit your application along with the uploaded documents.
- The ACP administrator (USAC) will review your application and send a confirmation email to notify you of their decision.
- If the authority approves your application, then you will get a high discount on a tablet (Discount up to $100) for only a copay of $10.99 from your preferred participating provider . (Here Access Wireless).
Apply Via mail
If you do not have the opportunity to apply online , you can apply via mail also. You may apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program via mail in the following way:
- Download the application form and the household worksheet from the following website: “getinternet.gov/apply?ln=RW5nbGlzaA%3D%3D” .
- On the homepage click on ‘ Sign in’ in the upper right corner of the page.
- Now click on the ‘Affordable Connectivity Benefit form’.
- Take print out of the forms.
- Complete the application form and the household worksheet.
- Prepare all your required documents to prove your eligibility and send your application and the household worksheet along with these documents to the following address: ACP Support Center, PO Box 9100, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18773.
- The FCC will review your application and notify you of their decision by sending a confirmation email.
- If the authority approves your application , then you will get a coupon via mail that you can redeem for a tablet from your preferred provider.( Here Access Wireless)
Process To Check The Application Status Of Access Wireless Free Tablet Application
After submitting your application, you can check its status anytime you like through the application status check option on Access wireless website. The process is as follows:
- Go to the official website of Access Wireless: “accesswireless.com“.
- Navigate to the ‘My Account’ option and click on it to open it.
- Now, login to your account by entering your phone number and passcode.
- After logging in, you may go to the ‘Application Status Check ‘ section and you will find your application status there. The status can be pending, approved, or rejected.
Activation Process Of Access Wireless Free Tablet After Getting From Access Wireless
You will receive a SIM card with your free tablet. You have to activate it to use it with your free tablet. In this section I discuss the SIM activation Process.
The SIM activation process is an easy and simple process. To activate the SIM, you need to turn off the tablet, wait for a few seconds, and turn it on. You will see that your tablet’s SIM activation process starts already. But in some cases, the SIM activation process does not start automatically. You have to enter the SIM activation code you received with your SIM. In that case, you will see that after you enter the SIM activation Code, your tablet’s SIM activation process starts.
Here in short I mention the SIM activation process:
- First, turn the tablet on.
- Now choose your preferred language and region where you live, from the welcome screen .
- You need an internet connection.
- So, if you have a Wi-Fi network in your location, select the network.
- Enter the password for the network.
- Now, tap ‘Set up manually.’
- Tap ‘SIM Card’.
- Now enter your SIM card details, say, your SIM card number, PIN, and PUK, carrier name, APN, etc.
- Now, create a passcode for your tablet.
- Then tap ’Next’.
- The tablet will activate the SIM within a few minutes. After activation you can make and receive phone calls, send and receive SMS and also use your cellular data.
The SIM activation process is an easy process. But if you cannot activate your SIM by yourself for any reason , then you may take help from the customer care of Access Wireless.
There Are Some Limitations In Using Access Wireless Free Tablet
There are some limitations on getting ACP benefits / using Access Wireless free tablets. These are:
- A household may get only one service discount per month and a one time only device discount.
- Your Affordable Connectivity Program benefits are non transferable. That means you cannot transfer your ownership of the device and ACP service to any other person, though the person is eligible for the program.
- The address you provide for your phone service must be your place of residence.
- If you provide wrong and unauthentic information willingly to get the benefits of the program, then you will be punished. You even can be imprisoned , or barred from the program.
- In the Affordable Connectivity Program , you do not have the option to choose a phone brand or model. You should accept any brand or model that is given to you.
- You must use your service at least once a month. If you don’t use your service every month, then the authority will decline your ACP benefits.
- If you are no longer eligible for the program, or if you change your address, then you have to notify Access wireless about it within 30 days.
The Other Benefits That You Enjoy After The Approval Of Your Application For A Free Tablet From Access Wireless
After your application is approved, you will get the following benefits:
- Unlimited Talk: Unlimited talk to make and receive calls to communicate with friends and family members.
- Unlimited Text: Unlimited text to chat with friends and family members. With this benefit you can send SMS to dear ones and the texts are permanent.
- Unlimited Data ( Includes some amount of High Speed Data): High speed data helps you to connect to social media, like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, etc. You can participate in many events arranged by social media through high speed data.
- 5 GB Hotspot data: You will get 5 GB of Hotspot data to connect several devices to the internet under the control of a central device.
The Causes For Rejection Of Your Application For A Free Tablet From Access Wireless And Their Solutions
If you fail to meet the eligibility criteria:
If you fail to meet the eligibility criteria, then your application may have been rejected.
Solution: Your first task is to know the eligibility criteria properly, then apply for the program.
If you provide wrong, incomplete, out-of-date information in your application:
If you provide incomplete, incorrect, and out-of- date information in your application, then it can be rejected.
Solution: Try to avoid errors in your application. Double check the application before submitting it.
If you are unable to submit required documents:
If you are unable to submit all eligibility documents, then your application may have been rejected.
Solution: Submit every document to prove your eligibility for the program. If additional documents are needed, submit them also.
If you face Technical Issues while applying:
Your application can be rejected if it is not submitted properly for any kind of technical issues.
Solution: Make sure your internet connection is stable and your computer is fully functional to avoid any technical issues while applying for the program.
You should submit only one application at a time from your household:
You should submit only one application at a time from your household. If you submit multiple applications from your household, then your application can be rejected.
Solution: Submit only one application from your household at a time. This can save your application from being rejected.
Do not overlap benefits:
You should not take the same benefits like the Affordable Connectivity program from any other government programs ( Lifeline is an exception). If you take advantage, like the ACP, from any other government program, then your application can be rejected for overlapping benefits.
Solution: Do not overlap benefits. Take advantage of the ACP program only.
If your state is not included in Access Wireless coverage area :
If you apply from a state where Access Wireless does not have their service, then your application may have been rejected.
Solution: If Access Wireless has their service in your state, only then apply for the program.
Some Important things to Keep in Mind About the Application and its Rejection
While your application is rejected, you will receive a rejection notice. Read it very carefully so that you have got a clear idea why your application is rejected and you can take necessary steps to get a perfect solution for the cause of rejection.
You can also contact the program administrators to know in detail the cause for rejection. This can give you a clear view why your application is rejected and you can take necessary steps to apply next time in a way that your application will have more possibility to be approved by the program.
You can appeal their decision if you think that your application is rejected unjustly. You can take help from the customer care for the appeal process.
FAQs
Is the Access Wireless Free Tablet truly “free”, or are there hidden costs?
The Access Wireless free tablet is not absolutely free. You have to copay $ 10.99 to get the tablet. And there is no hidden cost. Because the copay of $10.99 was previously announced.
How long will it take to receive my Access Wireless free tablet after registration?
It takes about 7 to 10 business days to receive your Access Wireless free tablet after registration.
Can you get the opportunity to use your free tablet as a Hotspot device?
Yes, you can use your free tablet as a hotspot device and connect several devices to the internet. You will get 5 GB of Hotspot data for absolutely free from Access Wireless.
What if I don’t qualify for the Access Wireless free tablet?
If you cannot qualify for the Access wireless free tablet, you can try for other options to get a free tablet. You can apply for a free tablet to non profit organizations, such as Salvation Army, Computers With Causes, The On It Foundation, InterConnection, PCs For People, etc.
What should I do if I have a problem with my free tablet from Access Wireless?
If you face any problem with the free tablet from Access Wireless, then you may contact Access wireless’s customer care for a solution. If the phone malfunctions within the first year of receiving, you can claim for a replacement.