Maryland wins approval to access federal money to expand broadband access

Maryland will be able to access more than $267 million in federal funds to help expand broadband access across the state, after federal officials recently approved the state’s plan to do so,

The money is part of the Biden administration’s $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) plan, which is designed to help states and local governments bring high-speed internet service to remote or underserved areas.

In Maryland, the funding will be used to provide internet access for about 21,000 unserved homes and 9,000 underserved communities. Ronnie K. Hammond, director of the state’s Office of Statewide Broadband, said during a virtual briefing Wednesday that represents about 2% of the state’s “hardest to reach locations.”

“It’s important for us that we’re ensuring that we reach every home, every business and leaving no Marylander behind,” he said. “That’s our key commitment. That’s our goal.”

But actual groundbreaking on those projects to provide internet access likely will not begin until next year. An application process will begin for subgrantees to apply for money to provide broadband access. Subgrantees include internet service providers, nonprofit organizations, a public-private partnership and local governments.

The money was awarded from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in connection with the Biden administration’s “Internet for All” initiative.

The state submitted a report last year to detail how the Department of Housing and Community Development will deploy the federal money. Another document identifies the areas in need of broadband access.

“Maryland can now move forward from planning to action,” said NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson, whose agency is within the Commerce Department. “I really want to congratulate the state for submitting a very sophisticated and high-quality plan. It’s a plan that shows how the state is going to make high-speed internet service available to everyone in every community across the state of Maryland.”