County Broadband

Sept 17, 2024 - The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (“BEAD”) program provides federal funding​ to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs. The BEAD plan serves​ as Maryland’s State Plan establishing its commitments and strategy to support broadband projects over the next five years in alignment with the Office of Statewide Broadband’s objective to close the digital divide in Maryland.

Grants & Funding

Office of Statewide Broadband

Through partnerships with local jurisdictions and the private sector, the Office of Statewide Broadband provides funding and technical assistance to help improve broadband access to Maryland communities. Check out their website at Office of Statewide Broadband (maryland.gov).

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (“BEAD”) program - The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (“BEAD”) program provides federal funding​ to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs. The BEAD plan will serve as Maryland’s State Plan establishing its commitments and strategy to support broadband projects over the next five years in alignment with the Office of Statewide Broadband’s objective to close the digital divide in Maryland. For more information on the BEAD Program access the State Plans webpage.

Resources and Information

Internet Service Providers (ISP's)

The FCC has concluded that cable modem service is properly classified as an interstate information service and is therefore subject to FCC jurisdiction. The FCC determined that cable modem service is not a "cable service" as defined by the Communications Act. The FCC also said that cable modem service does not contain a separate "telecommunications service" offering and therefore is not subject to common carrier regulation.”

Federal Law 47 U.S.C. 253 Section (a) - "In General. No State or local statute or regulation, or other State or local legal requirement, may prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting the ability of any entity to provide any interstate or intrastate telecommunications service."

Although ISP's are not regulated by St. Mary's County Government, we have been actively working with and encouraging commercial Internet Service Providers to expand their service offerings into our community. St. Mary's County Government will continue this work - fostering competition as vendors evaluate how their business model can support expansion into our county.

NTIA Digital Map

On June 17, 2021 the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released (Press Release) a new publicly available digital map that displays key indicators of broadband needs across the country. This is the first interactive, public map that allows users to explore different datasets about where people do not have quality Internet access.

Other Resources

Additional Information

• September 17, 2024 Final Broadband Update
• February 16, 2022 Updated Approved Plan of Action
• December 16, 2021 Updated Approved Plan of Action
• July 29, 2021 Approved Plan of Action
• April 13, 2021 Commissioners of St. Mary's County Meeting Broadband Update Video
• January 12, 2021 - 2020 Broadband Progress Report
• January 12, 2021 Commissioners of St. Mary's County Meeting Broadband Update Video
• January 7, 2021 Approved Plan of Action
• 2020 Approved Cell Tower Antenna Permits Map
• August 18, 2020 Broadband for Unserved Students (BUS) Grant Presentation
• August 18, 2020 Commissioners of St. Mary's County Meeting Agenda
• August 18, 2020 Commissioners of St. Mary's County Meeting Video
• July 27, 2020 Approved Plan of Action - Original
• County Cable Franchise(s)