Baltimore Sun

In december 2017, the Sinclair Broadcast Group was riding about as high as a media company can ride these days.

The Housing Authority of Baltimore City gave away 500 tablets with two-year internet subscriptions to their tenants as part of an effort to confront the digital divide, the virtual disconnect from information and opportunities that disproportionately affects low-income and minority families. Under the initiative, the housing authority selected 500 residents who are enrolled in various self-sufficiency programs to receive the devices. In exchange, the residents committed to staying active in the programs for the next two years. They get to keep the tablets.

At least five people were killed and several others were “gravely injured” in a shooting at the Capital Gazette in Anne Arundel County (MD). A shooter is in custody, police said. Police would not name the suspect or say what type of weapon was used. Anne Arundel County Police initially confirmed about 3:15 p.m.

The Maryland Office of People's Counsel is calling for an investigation and suspension of copper-line retirement notices Verizon has been sending some Maryland customers. Verizon and other telecommunications companies are eager to replace old copper wiring for landline telephones with fiber-optic cable, and the Federal Communications Commission has established rules to make the transition smoother for customers. The notices Verizon has been sending some customers in Howard, Baltimore, Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties are confusing and misleading, and therefore do not comply with the FCC's rules, the Maryland Office of People's Counsel alleged in a petition to the Maryland Public Service Commission and comments to the FCC. For example, some customers received notice that their copper line will be retired and they must switch to Verizon's fiber network or another provider by Dec. 14, while other notices had a deadline of September 2017. Still others received both notices, according to the Office of People's Counsel.

In 2015, more than 15 million Americans received some kind of virtual medical care, according to the American Telemedicine Association. The trade group expects the number to jump by 30 percent in 2016.

Nearly three-quarters of large companies will offer telemedicine doctor visits as part of their health packages in 2016, an increase from 48 percent in 2015. In a nod to the large role telemedicine soon may play in health care, Johns Hopkins Medicine this summer created the first administrative position and office dedicated to the practice. Among the tasks of the new office is developing policies and guidelines around the use of telemedicine. "I think the future market for telemedicine — the potential is incredible," said Dr. Ingrid Zimmer-Galler, executive clinical director of JHM Telemedicine. "The market is exploding. Things you would think you can't possibly do from home are absolutely going to become a reality in coming years." Doctors and nurses across the state are using high-resolution cameras, smartphones and desktop computers to diagnose, treat and monitor patients.

[Commentary] There is a monopoly for fast Internet services in Baltimore City. As a consequence, we pay more for less in Baltimore because fast fiber optic technology -- often called fiber to the premises (FTTP) -- is not widely deployed to our homes and businesses like it is in every county surrounding the city and along much of the East Coast, and because Comcast does not operate in a competitive environment in the city.

Extending FTTP and allowing alternative Internet service providers the opportunity to compete in the city is why 14 communities in north Baltimore have partnered to create the Baltimore Broadband Campaign.

We want to demonstrate that, through the intelligent use of existing fiber infrastructure and the installation of new fiber where necessary, an economically viable, competitive FTTP-based broadband service is possible in the city. And it need not come from Comcast or Verizon.

Our campaign's first phase involves a grassroots crowdfunding effort through which we hope to convince providers that there is sufficient demand to warrant the deployment of a competitive, fiber-based broadband service in Baltimore. We hope our campaign will lead to a second phase where, in partnership with elected officials, there is a change toward more proactive public policy. Good public policy requires a clear vision, a rational plan and effective execution.

• First, we believe that vision must include extending fiber to the premises with connectivity for all.
• Second, the city owns approximately 3.9 million feet of underground conduit (the passages through which our utilities run), and some of these contain city-owned fiber. That conduit is valuable, but only if the city knows where it is and its condition.
• Third, the city should establish "dig once policies," coordinating, if not requiring, fiber optic installation with other capital improvement projects such as road repaving or trenching for utility work.
• Fourth, the city should convene and facilitate a monthly or quarterly broadband round table, involving existing service providers and fiber facility owners within the city, city personnel, interested citizens and other stakeholders.
• Fifth, our state and federal officials are also critical in this effort.

[Spevak, Wilson and Gill are co-leaders of the Baltimore Broadband Campaign]