Verizon will make its Fios fiber broadband service available to almost 4,000 previously unserved Maryland homes and businesses in a deployment funded, in part, through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
As Telecompetitor previously reported, the state of Maryland awarded Verizon about $11 million recently in an ARPA-funded broadband program. Today’s news is Verizon’s official announcement of those deployment plans.
Verizon will contribute more than $14 million toward total project costs of $26 million.
Deployments will be made in Charles, Garrett, Cecil, Howard, St. Mary’s and Washington counties and will include more than 500 miles of fiber.
“Verizon is focused on delivering high-speed internet service and the major economic benefits that it can provide, especially in unserved and underserved areas,” Kwame Trotman, Verizon’s Vice President of Wireline Network Operations-Mid-Atlantic South Region, said in a press release. “More people than ever across Maryland will have access to our 100% fiber Fios internet service to fuel how they work, live and play.”
Verizon ARPA Win
The Verizon funding was among multiple awards made by the Connect Maryland Infrastructure Grant Program, which is administered by Maryland’s Office of State Broadband. In all, $92 million was awarded. That amount will be combined with contributions from providers to reach a total investment of about $143 million.
Verizon’s $11 million was far from the largest amount awarded. Choptank Electric Co-operative and competitive provider Quantum Telecommunications will receive about $16 million and $15.3 million, respectively. Comcast is receiving about $14.4 million, and $9.3 million will go to Shentel. In all, the projects will make broadband available to 14,500 homes and businesses.
