NTIA Approves Maryland's $268 Million BEAD Broadband Infrastructure Deployment Plan

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) formally approved Maryland's Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Volume II Proposal, unlocking $268 million in federal capital funds to connect every unserved and underserved home and small business across the state to high-speed gigabit fiber internet.

Eliminating the Digital Divide in Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore

The approved deployment plan authorizes the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Office of Statewide Broadband to open competitive bidding for broadband providers to construct 6,500 miles of buried fiber-optic cables. The initiative guarantees priority connections for 40,000 rural properties in Garrett, Allegany, Somerset, and Dorchester counties that previously lacked reliable 100/20 Mbps broadband service.

Governor Wes Moore stated that broadband access is not a luxury, but fundamental civil infrastructure required for jobs, modern education, and healthcare access in the 21st century.

Telecom Providers and Rural County Commissioners Praise

Rural Maryland county commissioners praised the federal approval, noting that high-speed fiber will enable rural family farms to deploy precision agriculture sensors.

Regional electric cooperatives and telecommunications providers prepared joint utility pole attachment agreements to accelerate fiber stringing.

Subgrantee Selection Timeline

Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband will award final fiber construction subgrants to internet service providers in December 2026.