Carroll County’s long-running effort to expand broadband infrastructure is drawing national attention, with its Public Network project receiving a 2026
Smart 20 Award from Smart Cities Connect.
The recognition highlights projects from around the world that demonstrate innovation in technology and infrastructure, and, in Carroll County’s case, reflects nearly two decades of investment in building a countywide fiber network.
Carroll County’s Public Network (CCPN) is a middle-mile fiber network designed to support high-capacity broadband across the county. Launched in 2007, the network now:
- spans more than 110 miles of fiber
- connects over 130 local and state agencies
- supports schools, libraries, and community institutions
- enables private providers to deliver last-mile service
Rather than focusing solely on direct service delivery, the county built foundational infrastructure, creating capacity that private providers could expand upon.
One notable feature of the project is that the county intentionally built excess fiber capacity into the system. In doing so they can allow leasing to private providers, long-term revenue generation, and greater flexibility as demand grows.
They also established an enterprise fun to support maintenance and sustainability over time, a model that blends public investment with ongoing operational strategy.
Additionally, the county established a collaborative network across public schools, the public library system, Carroll Community College, as well as private sector partners. This shared approach helped distribute costs, expand usage, and strengthen the overall value of the network across multiple sectors.
Nationwide, counties will agree that broadband infrastructure has become a key part of local economic development, workforce access, and service delivery.
Here are a few takeaways from what Carroll County has done:
- early infrastructure investment can create long-term capacity
- partnerships can expand reach and reduce duplication
- middle-mile networks can enable private sector expansion
- flexible design allows systems to adapt over time
