(10/2024) Delivering reliable high-speed broadband access to all County residents is necessary for accessing economic and educational opportunities, and for being able to use modern conveniences like virtual medical appointments. Understanding that broadband access is challenging in parts of Frederick County, especially in the more rural areas, a Rural Broadband Study was completed in 2020, and strategies to address this shortfall were identified.
The Comcast agreement that provides cable and internet service to many County residents requires an average of 20 or more homes per mile from their existing infrastructure to have service. There are many homes that are more spread out in Northern Frederick County and other regions. Depending on wireless access can also be problematic and inconsistent with the landscape and tree cover in these areas.
Since the study, the County has taken effective steps to bridge the broadband gap. An Office of Broadband was established, and a Multi-Year Rural Broadband Strategy was developed to identify state and federal grants to advance connectivity projects in underserved areas. Recently, the County received an FY-24 Home Stretch-Difficult to Serve Properties Grant from the Office of Statewide Broadband. This grant is designed to provide high-speed access to addresses that have been unserved due to their distance from existing lines.
In this program, each qualifying address may receive up to a total of $14,000, including contributions from the State, the County, and Comcast, for construction. If a property has a long driveway of 1,000 feet or more, that property owner may have to contribute to construction costs. A property less than 1,000 feet from existing service may be eligible for 100% funding.
The funding for this program is limited and will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis, so I’m hoping to reach as many rural County residents who may qualify, as quickly as possible. The deadline to apply is December 31. In order to qualify, a brief survey must be completed. A link to the survey is located on the Frederick County Government website with other broadband information at www.frederickcountymd.gov/8142/Broadband-Information. If you need assistance with finding or accessing the survey, you can contact the Broadband Office at 301-600-1010.
To reach as many rural residents as possible to inform them of these resources, County Executive Jessica Fitzwater announced a series of community meetings for residents to learn more about this program and other opportunities, including one on October 3 at the Libertytown Volunteer Fire Co.
Representatives from Frederick County government and Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) will be present to answer questions and provide more detailed information about what is covered in these grants. All of the meetings begin at 7, and no registration is required to attend.
Another issue of interest for rural residents is the progress of the proposed Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project. The County Council and the County Executive are continuing to advocate for a transparent process that minimizes the impact of transmission lines and power grid updates to County farms and residences. To keep the public informed County Executive Fitzwater will be holding a community meeting on Wednesday, October 9 at 6:00pm at Oakdale High School. Representatives from the Public Service Enterprise Group will be there to present information and answer questions.
If you have questions or need more information about either of these issues, please feel free to contact me at rknapp@frederickcountymd.gov.
Fall is a busy time for agritourism in Frederick County! I hope you get a chance to get outside, enjoy the season, and support these local businesses.
