A $10.7 million grant from the state will support the expansion of high-speed Comcast broadband to unserved rural areas in northwest Baltimore County.
On August 1, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and Comcast Cable announced a $10.7 million grant from the state to support the expansion of high-speed broadband to unserved rural areas in northwest Baltimore County. The project is part of the Maryland Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program. The County and Comcast — a MACo Corporate Partner — also provided funding for the project.
According to a press release, the project will bring high-speed internet access to more than 850 homes. “Combined with last year’s grant to Comcast, broadband services will soon reach approximately 1,800 new residences in the County.” In fact:
This will be the second consecutive year that Comcast will install broadband for residents in northern Baltimore County, bringing new, stable internet access to a total of more than 1,800 residents in the area. Prior to these installations, residents shared frustration with the lack of reliable internet which created difficulty with distance learning, healthcare monitoring, telecommuting, job searches and more.
The press release also explained the grant and its funding:
The FY22 Network Infrastructure Grant of $10.7 million, provided by Connect Maryland in partnership with Comcast and issued by the Office of Statewide Broadband utilizing federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, will support 50+ additional miles of infrastructure. The project is expected to be completed in 2025.
“We are committed to expanding broadband access throughout Baltimore County, and this project is game-changing for our residents who will be served with this new connectivity,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “Our partnership with the state and Comcast is critical to our efforts in providing much-needed infrastructure and in closing the digital divide in the County’s most rural areas.”
Learn more about the Maryland Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program.
Thank you to Comcast for being a MACo Gold Corporate Partner and for sponsoring our Education General Session at MACo’s Summer Conference!
Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference:
