WHAT’S NEW
- On April 5, Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced grants for Comcast to begin construction to connect more than 1,000 additional homes and businesses across the state as part of the Connect Maryland initiative.
- Through the partnership, Comcast will expand the Xfinity 10G Network in Baltimore County, Calvert County, Charles County, Garrett County, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County.
WHY IT MATTERS
- Expanding broadband access to unserved and underserved communities is at the heart of Comcast and the state of Maryland’s shared mission to bridge the digital divide.
- This partnership will invest millions in rural areas such as Charles County, as well as more densely populated areas such as Prince George’s County.
- This latest announcement deepens Comcast’s partnership with Maryland through the Connect Maryland Initiative and builds on expansion projects already taking place across the state.
- For example, last year Comcast and Baltimore County announced a partnership to bring high-speed Internet to more than 1,800 additional homes in rural parts of the county.
HOW ELSE IS COMCAST INVESTING IN MARYLAND
- Comcast’s community partnerships in Maryland have totaled $31 million in cash and in-kind contributions to more than 270 local non-profits in recent years.
- This investment includes the installation of more than 40 Lift Zones, which provide free WiFi service to local community centers to promote digital learning.
- Further promoting digital equity, Comcast donated 1,000 laptops to the Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Employment Development’s Train Up program – which helps members of the Baltimore community develop digital skills and accelerate job opportunities.
- Comcast is continuing efforts to connect low-income Maryland residents to the Internet at home through Internet Essentials offerings and the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
- This includes partnering with the Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband to drive awareness of Maryland’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which, when combined with ACP, provides eligible households with a credit of up to $45/month toward the cost of Internet and/or mobile service.
