Hoyer Announces $115.2 Million Recovery Act Award for the One Maryland Broadband Network Project

Project Will Create 1700 Jobs and Connect Vital Facilities Throughout Maryland

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) announced that the  National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is awarding Maryland with a $115.2 million Recovery Act Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant to the Maryland Department of Information Technology for its One Maryland Broadband Network (OMBN) project.

"This critical investment in Maryland's Broadband infrastructure will not only connect hundreds of important institutions around our state, but it is expected to create 1,700 jobs in Maryland," stated Congressman Hoyer. "By enhancing and extending the broadband network throughout our state, we will significantly improve our public safety, government services, health care delivery, and education – guaranteeing a better quality of life for all of our citizens. I commend the hard work of all parties involved in this process, and I look forward to working to ensure that this funding begins creating jobs in Maryland as soon as possible."

The funding for this project, which is projected to create more than 1,700 jobs over the next three years, will build fiber optics in every county in the state, providing more affordable and accessible broadband service for nearly 2 million households and 443,000 businesses.  It would provide for 1,043 miles of new fiber backbone, 251 miles of lateral backbone connections, and would connect 1,006 community anchor institutions around the State, including hundreds of schools, public safety facilities, higher education institutions, and government facilities.

The counties in Maryland's Fifth District will directly benefit from this funding, including 113 institutions in Prince George's County, 30 institutions in Anne Arundel County, 56 institutions in Calvert County, 30 institutions in St. Mary's County, and 6 institutions in Charles County.  A complete breakdown of facilities that will benefit from this award is available upon request.

In March, Congressman Hoyer joined the members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation in contacting the Department of Commerce to express support for the state's proposal.

For more information on the award, click here.

To view a fact sheet with background information on the award, click here.

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