HCS EdConnect, Powered by EPB
High-Speed Home Internet at No Charge for Hamilton County Students & Their Families
How It Works
HCS EdConnect powered by EPB offers high-speed, fiber internet access to qualifying students in Hamilton County Schools at no charge to families. Approximately 18,000 students are already enrolled!
Am I eligible?
- If your child:
- Receives free or reduced lunch
- Attends a school where all students receive free or reduced lunch
- Is enrolled in state economic assistance programs (i.e. SNAP)
Log in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal to get started.
The enrollment form is now located in PowerSchool! Under the Navigation tab in your account, select FORMS and click “HCS EdConnect — WiFi from EPB.”
Having trouble? Call your child's school for assistance.
Complete the opt-in survey.
Simply answer “Yes” to both questions in the survey:
(1) Would you like HCS EdConnect? And (2) Is it okay for us to share your information with EPB so that your student's name will be on the list for HCS EdConnect?
Schedule your installation.
Once you've completed the survey, call EPB the next business day at (423) 648-1372 to schedule installation.
Enjoy your new, no-cost fiber internet from EPB.
Make HCS the best connected school district, anywhere
About 18,000 students have already enrolled in HCS EdConnect, powered by EPB
Access a world of opportunity
Discover new community resources, explore careers and access telehealth with connectivity for the whole family
Support your child's education
Talk with your child's teachers, access grades and help with homework right from home
Customer Testimonials
"It has helped me a lot to stay involved. It's hard for me to get around, so not having to go in the school but still being involved online has been helpful… I can access progress reports and report cards, too."
"We used our cell phones as hotspots up until getting EdConnect. It was challenging due to having to monitor data usage and the impact of weather on service."
"Saving money, great service and speed (when I was paying it was $43 and it was so slow, this is much better)…helped other families learn more about the benefits and encouraged them to sign up."
"The financial impact was one burden that was lifted off our shoulders…I couldn't believe it myself: I think I even called and asked why they didn't take the money out of my account."
"We just struggled being able to afford Internet and keeping it on…I hate to admit it, but I'd have to disconnect it from one place, and then go to another place and use the promotion and cancel and switch again. When we didn't have it, we would go places like McDonald's parking lot, but it wasn't always reliable."
Helpful Information & Technical Support
Who is eligible?
At CEP Schools, or schools where all students receive free lunch, every family will receive opt-in information, but they should only opt-in if they qualify as economically disadvantaged. By opting in to HCS EdConnect, families are confirming that they qualify.
HCS is solely responsible for determining who is qualified. Any questions about qualification should be referred back to the principal of your children's schools.
What do qualified participants receive?
1. High-speed internet service with symmetrical upload/download speeds and no data caps at no charge. This is at least four times faster than typical educational assistance internet services, and HCS EdConnect is more than fast enough for video-based learning.
2. A WiFi router, also at no charge. Installation will all be completed by EPB professionals.
Is HCS EdConnect really no cost to my family?
Eligible participants receive the service at no charge. It is made possible by funding through a public-private community partnership.
Are families with Pre-K students eligible to participate?
Yes, HCS EdConnect is available to income-eligible families with Pre-K students at HCS Pre-K sites. Note that all students enrolled in Voluntary Pre-K are eligible; those students enrolled in HCS's new tuition-based Pre-K should contact their child's school to determine economic eligibility.
Will families have to apply every year?
Most families will not have to re-apply. Hamilton County Schools automatically verifies eligibility every year; if there is a question about a family's eligibility, they will receive communications from HCS and EPB.
Link service to the youngest eligible child in a household to minimize any potential disruption to your HCS EdConnect access.
What happens when a family's youngest child graduates high school?
When a family's youngest eligible child graduates, they will no longer be eligible for HCS EdConnect. HCS and EPB will contact these families about either continuing paid EPB fiber service or disconnecting.
Are there any HCS students outside of the service area?
Yes. Some residents in northern Hamilton County are outside of the area EPB is legally allowed to serve; those families are instead eligible for a 5G hotspot with unlimited data, also at no cost to them.
What if I am having trouble enrolling?
If you're having trouble enrolling, please contact your child's school. You can always reach out to the HCS Family Connection Center for help.
Contact the Family Connection Center at 423-843-4799 or FamilyConnectionCenter@hcde.org for assistance, or click Book an Appointment to schedule in-person/virtual assistance.
How long will it take to receive service?
When you call EPB, you will be able to schedule an installation date that works for you. If you already have internet from EPB, but are moving over to HCS EdConnect, the change will be immediate, with no disruption to service.
How long can I keep my service?
You can keep your HCS EdConnect service for as long as you have a qualified student enrolled in Hamilton County Schools; families should link service to their youngest qualified student to many disruptions. HCS EdConnect will not end before 2030.
Can I keep my internet service over the summer?
Yes, qualified customers may keep their HCS EdConnect internet year-round as long as their student remains eligible and enrolled in Hamilton County Schools.
I qualify, but already pay for EPB internet service. Can I still participate?
Yes. Eligible customers with paid internet services today can move to this program and eliminate their internet costs.
I currently have a past-due amount on my EPB services or have been cut off for nonpayment. Can I still sign up?
Yes, customers can sign up for this program as long as they qualify. HCS EdConnect internet services will not be cut-off for non-payment of any outstanding EPB Fiber Optics internet bills. However, customers must stay current with their EPB electric bill to maintain their service because the HCS EdConnect router requires electricity to access the internet.
If you have an outstanding electric bill, it is very important to call EPB right away at (423) 648-1372 and make payment arrangements to ensure continuity of services.
Can HCS EdConnect be bundled with other services from EPB?
If your internet is bundled with the cost of TV and other services, enrolling in HCS EdConnect will reduce the cost of your services by the amount you pay for internet.
How do HCS EdConnect customers get Tech Support?
Absolutely! For issues with their HCS EdConnect router or connectivity problems, please contact EPB — (423) 648-1372 — anytime.
WiFi Router or Service Issues
Are you having trouble with your WiFi router or another issue with your WiFi service itself? You can contact EPB Customer Service 24 hours/day. Call EPB Customer Service at (423) 648-1372
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