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Western Maryland
Improving Access to Broadband Infrastructure in Mountain Maryland
Investment Requirements to Cross the Economic Divide
- Final Report Now Available at the Tri-Council for Western Maryland
- Press Release Announcing Final Report (PDF file)
- Other Resources to Learn About Broadband Deployment
The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) and the Tri-County Council for Western Maryland (TCC) are currently managing a project aimed at expanding Western Maryland's communications infrastructure capacity and competitiveness.
This project seeks to resolve the lack of access in Western Maryland by determining best practices for utilizing the region's existing assets, analyzing and defining critical gaps in current infrastructure, as well as providing specific workable solutions for the counties of Garrett, Allegany and Washington.
The goal of this project is to improve economic opportunities for Western Maryland's businesses and citizens. TEDCO's eReadiness Maryland study has determined that Western Maryland's private sector lags behind other areas of the state in broadband usage, and we are committed to finding practical, economical solutions to move the region forward.
As a result of this project, TCC and TEDCO will have a feasible strategy that articulates current communications demand and potential future demand as well as current infrastructure. The final report will outline capital investments necessary to make the region more attractive to new business development, and will explicitly address how end-users in all areas of the region will be served, including large and small businesses, education, government and non-profit users. Additionally, the report will detail how the "last mile" objective will be achieved at a price that is affordable and comparable to other regions in Maryland.
The Survey
In order to accurately depict the demand for Internet access, the project team is currently performing a survey of 1,865 firms (all firms in the 3 counties with 10 or more employees). This will identify the current and perceived needs for broadband, including relationships with suppliers and customers. Completing this survey is essential to this project, as it provides our team with the information necessary to develop business cases with prospective providers and obtain funding to implement broadband solutions.
The Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, along with many local and state officials, fully support this project and are excited about the solutions that will result from this effort. The Lt. Governor wrote a letter that is included with each survey. An electronic copy of this letter and the survey is available by clicking on these links. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat viewer to read it, which is available here. If you have any questions regarding this survey, please review the Frequently Asked Questions (PDF file) section of our website.
The Project Team
TEDCO and the Tri-County Council prepared and released a Request for Proposals (RFP) in November 2002 for consultants experienced in the development of solutions to address these unique requirements. In January 2003, TLA Associates, a Virginia-based telecommunications and network design firm, was awarded this project. TLA and its technical leader, Mr. Charles Manto, have expertise in design of communications solutions, in the development of business cases for technology investment, in local government economic development, and in deployment and operations of communications platforms. The team, with support from the University of Baltimore’s Jacob France Institute and Battelle Memorial Institute, has already identified several potential solutions to bring broadband Internet solutions to Western Maryland.
The Tri-County Council for Western Maryland is committed to the development and implementation of a regional strategy for economic development. One of the focal points of the strategy is the development of telecommunications infrastructure for the three westernmost counties of Maryland. The Council would like to thank TEDCO, EDA, ARC and the regional participants that have assisted in helping move this project forward.
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