FREDERICK, Md. – Members of the community are invited to attend upcoming meetings to learn from Frederick County Government about various grant opportunities for expanding broadband access in rural areas. Four meetings will take place throughout the County in September and October. Representatives from Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) will be in attendance to provide additional information on service availability, costs, timelines, and construction.
“As part of our ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide, the grants can help Internet Service Providers deliver high-speed internet access to rural homes that are currently underserved due to their distance from existing service lines,” said Jeff Chamberlain, Manager, IIT Broadband and Enterprise Project Management for Frederick County Government. “The County Executive’s goal for the upcoming meetings is to ensure every eligible resident has the resources and knowledge they need to benefit from improved broadband services provided by this grant funding.”
The grant opportunities are part of a broader County-wide initiative aimed at enhancing telecommunications infrastructure to ensure rural residents are not left behind in an increasingly digital world. In 2020, Frederick County commissioned a Rural Broadband Study with matching funding from the Maryland Rural Broadband Office to provide an assessment of broadband needs in the county and to identify strategies to address these needs.
Meetings will be held on the following dates to provide information about the grants. The meetings are open to the public and no registration is required. All meetings will begin at 7:00 PM.
- September 18: Emmitsburg – Vigilant Hose Co., 25 W. Main St., Emmitsburg, MD 21727
- October 3: Libertytown – Liberty Volunteer Fire, 12027 South St., Libertytown, MD 21762
- October 10: Adamstown – Carroll Manor, 2795 Adams St., Adamstown, MD 21710
- October 18: Myersville – Myersville Volunteer Fire, 301 Main St., Myersville, MD 21773
On behalf of Frederick County, Jeff Chamberlain will present information regarding the County’s role in these opportunities and Mike Simons, Grants Manager, will provide address confirmation and details about specific locations covered by the multiple grants. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions to Frederick County and Shentel representatives during each public meeting. For additional information, visit www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/Broadband.
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Contact: Hope Morris, Communications Manager
Office of Communications & Public Engagement
301-600-2950