ANNAPOLIS, MD — To bridge the digital divide and ensure equitable access to high-speed internet, Governor Wes Moore has unveiled plans to allocate $69 million in federal funding to two pioneering programs. These initiatives, Home Stretch for Public Housing and Home Stretch for Difficult-to-Serve Properties, are set to provide internet connectivity to approximately 15,000 previously unserved households across Maryland.
Governor Moore stressed the importance of universal internet access in today’s society, significantly impacting job opportunities and children’s education. He expressed his gratitude for the backing of the U.S. Treasury in this endeavor to create a more inclusive Maryland.
The funds, derived from the U.S. Treasury’s American Rescue Plan Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, will support the latest additions to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Office of Statewide Broadband’s Connect Maryland initiative. Since its inception in 2017, this initiative has invested over $300 million in broadband infrastructure and programs. Consequently, it has delivered high-speed internet to 52,000 previously underserved households and businesses statewide.
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day emphasized that these new programs would ensure a home’s geographical location does not limit internet access. He explained that, with the help of local partners, more Marylanders would have access to affordable, high-speed broadband, which he likened to being as essential for economic outcomes as water and sewer systems have been for the past 150 years.
The Home Stretch for Public Housing program is set to receive $45 million, focusing on resolving affordability, accessibility, and service challenges related to broadband internet in public housing across Maryland. The program will allocate funding directly to local jurisdictions with public housing units. This funding will facilitate the installation of broadband facilities, wireless access points, and other eligible broadband components. Each project program must incorporate educational and technical assistance outreach to support adoption. The Office of Statewide Broadband estimates this funding will provide wiring for approximately 10,400 multi-dwelling units throughout the state.
Conversely, the Home Stretch for Difficult-to-Serve Properties program will receive over $24 million in funding, primarily dedicated to last-mile broadband projects. These projects are intended to provide high-speed internet access to remote properties that face challenges in obtaining service due to their distance from broadband infrastructure or other geographic issues discouraging service providers from delivering broadband. Grants will be awarded to counties, which will then subgrant funds to internet service providers for service connection installation and provision. The funding is expected to bring broadband service to 4,600 previously unserved properties across the state.
These financial commitments from the U.S. Treasury come on the heels of Governor Moore’s announcement in June of $267 million in funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to close the digital divide.
For further information about the Office of Statewide Broadband and the programs, visit dhcd.maryland.gov/broadband.
In a bold move to make Maryland a leader in bridging the digital divide, Governor Wes Moore has announced allocating $69 million in federal funding to fund two groundbreaking programs. These initiatives, Home Stretch for Public Housing and Home Stretch for Difficult to Serve Properties, are designed to provide internet access to an estimated 15,000 unserved households across the state.
Under the Home Stretch for Public Housing program, $45 million will be dedicated to addressing affordability, accessibility, and service issues related to broadband internet in Maryland’s public housing. This program will provide direct funding to local jurisdictions that own public housing units to facilitate the installation of broadband infrastructure, wireless access points, and other eligible broadband components. Each project will also include educational and technical outreach to support adoption, with an estimated 10,400 multi-dwelling units benefiting from the program. More information can be found on the program’s Home Stretch for Public Housing website.
The Home Stretch for Difficult-to-Serve Properties program has received over $24 million in funding to support last-mile broadband projects that bring high-speed internet access to remote properties facing challenges in obtaining service. This is often due to their distance from existing broadband infrastructure or other geographic issues that may discourage service providers from delivering broadband to these areas. The funding will be allocated to counties, which will then subgrant the funds to internet service providers to install service connections. The program aims to provide broadband service to 4,600 unserved properties across the state. Further information is available on the program’s website: Home Stretch for Difficult to Serve Properties.
These funding initiatives from the U.S. Treasury follow Governor Moore’s announcement in June of $267 million in funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, all aimed at closing the digital divide.
For additional details about the Office of Statewide Broadband and the programs it supports, please visit dhcd.maryland.gov/broadband.
To bridge the digital divide, Maryland’s Governor Wes Moore has unveiled a plan to allocate $69 million in federal funding to two innovative programs. These initiatives, Home Stretch for Public Housing and Home Stretch for Difficult-to-Serve Properties, aim to provide internet access to approximately 15,000 previously unserved households across Maryland.
The Home Stretch for Public Housing program is set to receive $45 million in funding. This program will address affordability, accessibility, and service issues related to broadband internet in public housing across the state. It will allocate funding directly to local jurisdictions that own public housing units. This funding will facilitate the installation of broadband facilities, wireless access points, and other eligible broadband components. Each project will also include educational and technical assistance outreach to support adoption. The Office of Statewide Broadband estimates this funding will provide wiring for approximately 10,400 multi-dwelling units throughout the state. For more information on the Home Stretch for Public Housing program, visit dhcd.maryland.gov.
Conversely, the Home Stretch for Difficult-to-Serve Properties program will receive over $24 million in funding. This program will focus on last-mile broadband projects intended to provide high-speed internet access to remote properties that face difficulties in obtaining service due to their distance from broadband infrastructure or other geographic challenges that discourage service providers from delivering broadband. Counties will be awarded grants, which will be used to subgrant funds to internet service providers to install service connections. The funding is expected to bring broadband service to 4,600 previously unserved properties across the state. For more information on the Home Stretch for Difficult to Serve Properties program, visit dhcd.maryland.gov.
These financial commitments from the U.S. Treasury follow Governor Moore’s announcement in June of $267 million in funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to close the digital divide.
For further information about the Office of Statewide Broadband and the programs, visit dhcd.maryland.gov/broadband.
