Howard County Executive and MACo President Ken Ulman has announced the launch of construction of the Inter-County Broadband Network. As previously reported by MACo, Howard County is leading the One Maryland Broadband project, Maryland’s $115 million stimulus-funded project that brings high-speed broadband capacity to schools, libraries, community colleges, public safety agencies and other institutions throughout Central Maryland.  According to a Howard County press release, the project includes 1,300 miles of new fiber, interconnected with more than 2,400 miles of existing fiber, and is expected to produce annual savings for governments of $28 million per year through reduced telephone and other equipment costs, consolidation of call centers and great access to efficiency-producing technologies.

U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski stated:

“Whether it’s in the robust Baltimore-Washington corridor, the mountain counties of Western Maryland or over the Bay Bridge on the Eastern Shore, broadband is going to bring the jobs of tomorrow to our state. With more than $115 million in federal stimulus funds for broadband coming to Maryland, this new construction will not only create jobs, foster business growth and spark innovation, but create opportunity for the people of Maryland.”

The project is anticipated to be completed over the course of the next 18-24 months.