According to a statement, the deal involves the Maryland Department of Information Technology and the Maryland Broadband Cooperative, and focuses on a “middle-mile” fiber-optic network.
The state will pay $250,000 to gain exclusive access to about 26 miles of that network — a transaction worth $3.5 million in “total in-kind value to the state,” according to the statement, with more work on the horizon.
“Since day one, our administration has been committed to expanding access to high-speed Internet to all Marylanders, because connectivity is not a luxury — it is a necessity,” said Gov. Wes Moore in the statement. “This new agreement is a direct investment in the future of Western Maryland, ensuring our families, students and businesses in Allegany and Garrett counties have the robust, high-speed Internet access they need to thrive.”
The network passes 17 state-owned towers, 15 Maryland Department of Transportation intelligent transportation system devices, 473 unserved and underserved homes and businesses and 48 community anchor institutions, according to the statement.
“Marylanders must be able to get online to access the state's digital services,” said Maryland Department of Information Technology Secretary Katie Savage in the statement. “With a little planning and partnership, we can reduce costs, eliminate inefficiencies, and bridge the digital divide across our state.”
The statement said that sine 2023, Maryland has connected some 43,000 homes to high-speed Internet. The state earlier this year announced it had received $79 million in federal funding to further expand Internet access.
As Maryland works to bring better digital services to rural residents, New York City is working to widen such access to urban dwellers via a recently expanded program. Historically Black colleges and universities also are involved in similar work, underscoring the need of all types of populations for better and faster Internet.
