Gov Hogan Announces $400 Million in Initiatives to Expand Broadband Access in Maryland

Governor Larry Hogan (R-MD) announced the launch of Connect Maryland, a transformative new initiative to bring Maryland's total investments in broadband to $400 million. Connect Maryland includes an additional $100 million to expand broadband access across the state, in addition to the $300 million announced in March 2021 as part of a bipartisan budget agreement to allocate federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. To ensure that funding is invested in local communities swiftly, Governor Hogan announced the creation of a bipartisan Maryland Broadband Advisory Workgroup, which will bring together key stakeholders from across the state. This panel will include representatives from the counties and municipalities, as well as members of the General Assembly, to advise the state on the best ways to utilize this new investment in broadband infrastructure. Hogan also announced the launch of a new Maryland Emergency Broadband Benefit Subsidy Program, to make broadband more affordable for low-and moderate-income households. A household must already be approved for service under the Federal Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which provides a discount on internet service of up to $50 per month; when combined with state assistance, households can receive a discount of $65 per month for up to 12 months.