 Grant Earmarks $200,000 for Businesses
Seeking High Speed Internet
Westminster, MD, Thursday, May 17, 2018 – Carroll County businesses with limited access to
high speed internet may now have access to a new Carroll County Government grant
to improve their internet connection. Today, the Board of Commissioners
approved $200,000 to assist businesses and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in
gaining access to higher internet speeds. The Carroll Broadband Grant Program will
help to make “last-mile” connections to meet commercial/industrial users unmet
broadband needs through various service providers. The grant program will
accept applications immediately.
Carroll Broadband, a county-owned
fiber optic network, serves both public and private customers throughout the
county. The Board of Commissioners is
committed to the expansion of this valuable infrastructure asset through the
Carroll Broadband Grant Program. Carroll County will lease available fiber to
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or businesses directly through the Fiber
Network Enterprise Fund.
Qualified business
enterprises may apply given a good business standing and documented business
need in an underserved or unserved area of the county. Additionally, ISP’s in
good business standing with federal, state and local government authorities
that plan to provide service in an unserved or under-served area in Carroll
County may apply. The grantees must also have the legal authority to provide,
construct, operate and maintain the proposed facilities or services. Additional
information can be found on the newly developed webpage for Carroll Broadband.
Interested parties are also encouraged to contact Carroll County Chief
Information Officer Mark Ripper at 410-386-2053 or mripper@ccg.carr.org.
Board of Commissioner
President Dennis Frazier said, “This grant program is part of the FY18 $1,000,000
investment that the Board made to develop Carroll Broadband. We are excited to
implement this new economic development tool to stimulate and attract business
development and expand our fiber network in the last mile. ”
Carroll County Chief
Information Officer Mark Ripper elaborated, “This grant program will allow the
county to continue its expansion of high speed internet to businesses.”
Economic Development Director
Jack Lyburn added, “With growing business technology needs and emerging
international business opportunities, every business needs a competitive
advantage like Carroll Broadband high speed internet access.”
Visit the Carroll Broadband website
to learn more about the Carroll Broadband Grant Program and complete an
application if qualified.
For additional information, contact:
Mark Ripper
410-386-2053
 About Carroll Broadband:
Carroll County Government
currently operates and maintains over 110 miles of fiber optic lines throughout
the county; over 130 local and state agencies are connected to the network. The
agencies include all county offices, all Board of Education buildings and
schools, Carroll Community College, the Carroll County Public Library system,
emergency response facilities, court houses, and town offices. Business fiber leasing is done through the
county’s Fiber Network Enterprise Fund.
Carroll County is part of the
Inter-County Broadband Network (ICBN), a Maryland consortium including the City
of Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Harford
County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County. ICBN
partners with the State of Maryland and the Maryland Broadband Cooperative to
create the One Maryland Broadband Network.
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