MD to Deploy $268M in Federal Funding to Expand High-Speed Internet Access

Governor Wes Moore announced that the United States Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved proposals for Maryland’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) plan.

Alpha Stock Images - http://alphastockimages.com/The approval enables access to $267.7 million in federal funding to support the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Connect Maryland initiative to provide all Marylanders with affordable and equitable access to high-speed internet.

As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, funding from the NTIA will help close the remaining gaps in high-speed Internet service in the state and expand digital equity initiatives for Marylanders.

“The Biden-Harris Administration has been an extraordinary partner in our work to close the digital divide across Maryland — from Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore and everywhere in between,” said Governor Moore. “Thanks to robust federal support, we’re taking a big step forward in our work to connect every Marylander with affordable, high-speed internet. To leave no one behind, we need to get everyone online.”

Maryland’s Volume 1 BEAD proposal outlines the Broadband Availability Challenge Process, which aims to ensure accurate broadband mapping and target investments to areas most in need of high-speed internet access by tracking existing broadband funding, unserved and underserved locations, and availability of community anchor institutions.

Maryland’s Volume 2 BEAD proposal outlines how DHCD will transparently and efficiently deploy federal funds to bolster the Connect Maryland initiative’s infrastructure, affordability, and outreach goals by:

  • Bridging the digital divide with specific strategies to address accessibility gaps in rural and underserved areas
  • Encouraging economic development, innovation, and resilience by enhancing connectivity for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises
  • Enhancing education and workforce development to help students and workers succeed in a digital environment where remote learning and online job training are increasingly prevalent
  • Supporting public health and safety by improving connectivity for emergency response systems and communications, as well as expanding access to telehealth services
  • Empowering communities by engaging residents and stakeholders in the planning and implementation process to build trust and ensure sustainable progress that meets the unique challenges of different regions and communities

The Office of Statewide Broadband works to ensure that all Maryland households have access to broadband through its programs to expand infrastructure and increase digital equity. Since its creation in 2017, it has invested over $270 million into broadband infrastructure and programs. Those efforts have provided high-speed internet access to 52,000 previously unserved homes and businesses statewide.

For more information about Connect Maryland, BEAD, and other internet initiatives, visit dhcd.maryland.gov/Broadband.