Frederick County To Hold Public Meetings On Rural Broadband

Participants will discuss grant opportunities  to expand broadband to rural areasFrederick, Md (KM) Frederick County Government has scheduled four meetings in September and October on expanding broadband access to rural areas.Representatives from county government and Shenandoah Telecommunications Company, (Shentel) will be on hand to describe various grant opportunities to expand access to broadband so rural residents are not left out as the world becomes more digital. They will also answer questions from residents.”As part of our ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide, the grants can help Internet Service Providers deliver high-seed internet access to rural homes that are currently underserved due to their distance from existing service lines,” says Jeff Chamberlain, Manger IIT Broadband and Enterprise Project Management for Frederick County Government, in a statement. “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 service provided by this grant funding.”The County says these  grant opportunities are  part of a broader County-wide initiative to enhance telecommunications infrastructure to make sure rural residents are not left behind as the world becoming increasingly digital.  In 2020, Frederick County commissioned  a Rural Broadband Study.  With matching funds from the Maryland Rural Broadband Office, the report provided an assessment of the broadband needs of the county and to identity strategies to meet those needs.The meetings will take place September 18th at Vigilant Hose Company, 25 West Main Street in Emmitsburg. A second meeting will take place in Libertytown on October 2nd at the Libertytown Volunteer Fire Company, 12077 South Street. . There will be a meeting in Adamstown at the Carroll Manor Fire Hall at 2795 Adams Street on October 10th. The final meeting will take place at Myersville Volunteer Fire Company at 301 Main Street.All meetings get underway at 7:00 PMBy Kevin McManus