Quantum Telecommunications to expand internet to 1,200 homes in Carroll County

Carroll County continues to expand internet access to areas of the county with poor connections or none at all.

The Board of Carroll County Commissioners at their meeting Thursday unanimously approved paying Quantum Telecommunications, Inc., $6,878,653 to expand broadband into rural areas of the county. These are areas considered unserved or underserved, meaning internet service is unreliable, slow or unreasonably expensive.

The funding for Quantum Telecommunications is coming from Maryland’s Network Infrastructure Grant Program, which is designed to provide funding directly to internet service providers for qualifying large-scale broadband projects in areas that lack adequate service.

Quantum Telecommunications will provide broadband internet to 1,206 homes in Taneytown, New Windsor, and Union Bridge. Work is expected to be complete next summer.

Jay Uebel, broadband project manager in the county’s Technology Services department, said that this new project, when combined with other grant funding, will reduce the number of households without internet access in the county to 2,000.

“This project, I believe, will be good for competition for residents and provide options for service providers that everybody is desperately asking for,” Uebel said.

Carroll County is not an internet service provider, but the county does partner with private ISPs to use the county’s fiber network to expand their networks.

Meanwhile, Mark Ripper, director of Technology Services, warned commissioners that in the future providing internet access to homes that are without it will be “more difficult” since they are located on long, private driveways.

Funding is now available for broadband installation to qualifying Carroll County residents who have long, private driveways and have been unable to receive internet installation.

As part of the county’s new Difficult to Serve – Long Driveway Grant Program , residents can receive up to $14,000 toward internet installation. The funding is for homes in rural areas that do not already have broadband, internet or cable TV infrastructure.

The $1.76 million program is being funded by the state’s fiscal 2024 Home Stretch – Difficult to Serve Properties Grant, which provides funding for connectivity where the cost to extend internet has been the primary barrier to obtaining service.

District 5 Commissioner Ed Rothstein said it’s important to update communities on what internet access projects are ongoing or being planned. When residents turn on their computers, they want a working internet, he said.

“It’s messaging,” Rothstein said. “I ask that you work with our team to message appropriately and timely. Periodically, however you want to do it, to get the community aware of their expectations. Expectations matter and it’s huge.”