Mayor Scott announces plan to use $35 million of federal money to close Baltimore broadband gap

Mayor Brandon Scott (D-MD) is announcing Baltimore's latest investment with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars: $35 million focused on the administration’s efforts to close the digital divide. Following his early commitment to address digital disparity, the Mayor has continued to champion efforts to close Baltimore’s digital and broadband divide, with nearly 100,000 city households facing barriers to internet access at home — exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The first $6 million of those dollars will be used to dramatically expand public internet access, expanding City fiber to the remaining 23 recreation centers not already on the City's network, and bringing 100 secure wi-fi hotspots to West Baltimore neighborhoods. The announcement coincides with a commitment by the Mayor to close the digital divide, once and for all, by 2030. The City’s approach will focus on eliminating the root cause of broadband inequality by building open-access fiber infrastructure all across the city. The public is invited to review, provide input, and join in on the efforts described in the City of Baltimore’s Digital Equity Framework.