Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has announced more than $127.6 million in broadband grants for local jurisdictions, Internet Service Providers, and community organizations, as well as education-specific grants that will expand infrastructure and provide wireless devices and equipment to Maryland’s K-12 students.
Through the state’s Connect Maryland initiative, the Office of Statewide Broadband has awarded funding that will help provide broadband service to an estimated 15,000 households – increasing high-speed internet access and affordability.
“Last summer, we supercharged our broadband investment with the launch of Connect Maryland, for a total new investment of $400 million for the expansion of broadband access, and to fully address the digital divide for everyone all across our state,” Gov. Hogan said. “As a result of these efforts, broadband is now available to well over 95 percent of Marylanders,”
“Our goal is to ensure universal broadband to everyone in every single corner of the state,” he added. “Connect Maryland is the game-changing initiative that is going to help us get there, and it is one more way that we are changing Maryland for the better.”
The awards were made through four grant programs, including the Connect Maryland Network Infrastructure Grant Program, the Neighborhood Connect Broadband Grant Program, the Connected Communities Program, and the Maryland Emergency Education Relief Grant.
The education-specific Maryland Emergency Education Relief Grant totaled over $8 million in awards, helping K-12 students and school staff to access the internet or devices needed to connect to classrooms.
The Connect Maryland Network Infrastructure Grant Program totaled over $99 million in awards, the Neighborhood Connect Broadband Grant Program totaled over $14 million, and the Connected Communities Program totaled almost $5 million – helping local jurisdictions, Internet Service Providers, local community-based organizations, nonprofits, and anchor institutions to close the digital divide.
The full list of awardees can be found here.
