Choptank Fiber Partners with Bay Country Communications on Fiber Broadband Services

Choptank Electric Cooperative and its subsidiary, Choptank Fiber, finalized a deal to acquire thousands of broadband fiber customers from Bay Country Communications (BCC) over the next 10 years. The deal sets up a partnership between Choptank and BCC whereby Bay Country will continue to serve its cable customers and will construct fiber services to customers already in the construction pipeline. Choptank will acquire broadband accounts as they come online. Choptank Electric Cooperative and Choptank Fiber have been awarded over $50 million from the state’s Network Infrastructure & Neighborhood Connect programs since 2019 for broadband construction on the Eastern Shore (MD). Since January 2022, Choptank has built-out broadband infrastructure and offered service to more than 4,000 unserved locations in its footprint. Choptank Fiber was founded in the fall of 2020 at the request of the cooperative’s members. Choptank Fiber is currently providing internet service to households in Caroline, Cecil, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties (MD). The new partnership with BCC will add Dorchester and Talbot counties to the service list. Choptank Fiber expects to offer service to at least 3,000 new locations annually.