FREDERICK, Md. – Members of the community are invited to attend upcoming meetings to learn from Frederick County Government about ongoing grant opportunities for expanding broadband access in rural areas. Representatives from Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) and Comcast will be in attendance to provide additional information on service availability, costs, timelines, and construction.
Meetings will be held on the following dates. The meetings are open to the public and no registration is required. Both meetings will begin at 6 p.m.
Tuesday, June 24: Urbana Regional Library – 9020 Amelung Street, Frederick MD 21704 Tuesday, July 1: Middletown Branch Library – 31 East Green Street, Middletown, MD 21769
“These grants aim to help Internet Service Providers offer high-speed internet to rural homes currently underserved due to their distance from existing service lines,” said Jeff Chamberlain, Manager of IIT Broadband and Enterprise Project Management for Frederick County. “The goal of the upcoming meetings is to ensure eligible residents have the resources they need to benefit from improved broadband services.”
On behalf of Frederick County, Jeff Chamberlain will present information regarding the County’s role in these opportunities and Mike Simons, Grants Manager, will provide details about specific locations covered by the multiple grants. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions to Frederick County, Shentel, and Comcast representatives during each public meeting.
The grant opportunities are part of a broader County-wide initiative aimed at enhancing telecommunications infrastructure to ensure rural residents are not left behind in an increasingly digital world. In 2020, Frederick County commissioned a Rural Broadband Study with matching funding from the Maryland Rural Broadband Office to provide an assessment of broadband needs in the County and to identify strategies to address these needs.
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Contact: Hope Morris, ManagerOffice of Communications & Public Engagement301-600-2590