Treasury's Capital Projects Fund Boosts Maryland's Network Infrastructure Grant Program

Maryland wants broadband networks to reach everyone in the state. Its efforts got a boost this week when the US Department of the Treasury approved the state's plan to apply 55 percent of its allocation from the Capital Projects Fund towards broadband deployment. The Federal Communications Commission estimates that just 2.6 percent of Marylanders lack access to broadband networks that can deliver speeds of 25 Mbps downloads and 3 Mbps uploads. The number is higher for Maryland's rural areas where 7.1 percent of residents do not have broadband access. On July 14, 2022, the US Treasury approved Maryland's plan for $95 million in Capital Projects Fund support. Maryland estimates it will connect 16,667 homes and businesses through its competitive broadband grant program. The program aims to close the racial and socioeconomic digital divide across the state. As reported by Maryland, estimates show that investments made using the Capital Projects Fund will serve approximately 30 percent of locations still lacking high-speed internet access in the state. The operators of Maryland networks that receive Capital Projects Fund support will still be responsible to contribute matching funds, provide internet service with speeds of 100/100 Mbps symmetrical to households and businesses upon project completion, and participate in the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program, a $30 per month subsidy for low-income families.

[Kevin Taglang is executive editor at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.]