Maryland officials say 99.5% of locations in the state now have the ability to access broadband, with work on the remaining 0.5% ahead of schedule.
Part of the remaining area includes Smith Island, along with other parts of the Eastern Shore, which is where Gov. Wes Moore and Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day spent Wednesday morning.
That Smith Island project finished three months ahead of schedule and now delivers reliable internet service to more than 200 households and businesses. State officials said the expansion closes a critical gap for residents who until now lacked access to the same digital tools available to much of the state. Work continues across the rest of the state as well.
“Progress is being made, especially in rural areas and Baltimore City. So, we want to see all of our counties fully connected by 2028,” Day said. “That means every business, every farm, every house connected.”
He said remaining communities include Mount Airy, Washington County and Southern Maryland. Bay Country Communications is currently working on a project to fill some gaps in Dorchester County, scheduled for completion next year. Additional work around Salisbury, Dogwood Village and Princess Anne is being handled by Choptank Electric, with a 2026 completion date.
There are also holes near Darlington, Bel Air and Aberdeen, each expected to be finished by Think Big Networks no later than the end of 2026.
“The bottom line is, rural locations with long driveways, rough terrain, and then places like Smith Island that are visibly remote and disconnected are the hardest and most expensive to deliver on. And that’s why it’s so important that Smith Island is being connected early, and that we’re demonstrating … no one will be left behind,” Day said. “We’ll find the technical solution, we’ll be creative and work with our partners in the industry to get it done.”
Moore and Day joined Del. Charles Otto, Somerset County leaders and members of Smith Island United to celebrate the completion of the work on the island. The effort was funded through a nearly $2 million state grant to Verizon from the Office of Statewide Broadband’s Network Infrastructure Program.
Closing the digital divide
The grant was first announced in June 2024, when Day said bringing broadband to Smith Island was part of the state’s commitment to close the digital divide by 2030. The Office of Statewide Broadband, created in 2017, has invested more than $270 million in infrastructure and programs, providing high-speed internet to an estimated 52,000 previously unserved homes and businesses across Maryland.
“It means we have people who can now work remotely and create whole new job opportunities, simply from the comfort of your own home,” he said. “This matters to people, and that’s why it matters to the state of Maryland.”
Day said it was important that Smith Island wasn’t just on the list for the Office of Statewide Broadband, but was first in line “of the difficult places that we were going to solve.” He credited partners with tackling a tough issue early and under budget.
Day said download and upload speeds have more than tripled, and in some cases are more than 10 times faster than the prior technology on Smith Island.
“You can download a movie and upload a photo at the same time. It’s those small wins that helps Maryland close its digital divide,” he said.
Since 2023, Day said the state has deployed more than $145 million in infrastructure funding.
“Those grants and $35.8 million in digital equity funding have made sure that every Maryland community is going to get access. Today’s milestone is another that says we’re marching toward 100%,” Day said.
Seeing a difference
Resident Shannon Abbott, an organ transplant nurse, said she moved to the community three years ago. She fields organ offer calls every 15 to 30 minutes.
“Once I get that call, I only have 30 minutes to accept that offer or turn it down,” she said, adding that if she misses a call, a patient can miss out on a life-saving opportunity. “The clock is ticking and it truly can be a life or death situation.”
Before broadband, Abbott said she could only reliably receive calls from her kitchen table.
“I could never really leave my home when I was on call,” she said. “Now, with the new broadband network, I have 5G everywhere on Smith Island, all of the time.”
Eddie Somers, president of Smith Island United, became visibly emotional when he spoke, thanking Moore for visiting and acknowledging Smith Island’s importance to the state.
“I don’t know that we’ve been told that before,” he said.
In an interview with The Baltimore Sun, Somers mentioned “the history of buyouts” that federal officials previously offered Smith Islanders after major storms. The fact that the state was now investing to help people not only stay, but thrive, he said, was a game changer.
“It does your heart good to hear that you’re not going to be left behind,” he said. “We’re small and probably truly underserved at one time — but I wouldn’t say that now.”
Have a news tip? Contact Eastern Shore bureau chief Josh Davis at jdavis@baltsun.com or 443-366-1844.
