Maryland Governor Wes Moore Announces Completion of Broadband Infrastructure Project to Bring High-Speed Internet to Smith Island

Governor Wes Moore (D-MD) announced the completion of a nearly $2 million infrastructure project to bring high-speed internet access to residents and business owners of Smith Island. The project is a critical part of the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to ensure all of Maryland—no matter how remote the location—has affordable and equitable access to high-speed internet. “Leave No One Behind is more than a motto—it’s a governing philosophy,” said Gov. Moore. “By bringing broadband to Smith Island, we aren’t just connecting an additional 200 Marylanders to the internet; we are proving our commitment to the highest ideals of our state. It doesn’t matter where you live or work—in this administration, we stand up for all of our people.” The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Office of Statewide Broadband awarded Verizon $1,946,900 in June 2024 through the Network Infrastructure Program for the project. The program provides grants to local jurisdictions or internet service providers to construct new broadband networks to bring internet service to unserved or underserved homes and businesses. The infrastructure project brings affordable broadband access to more than 200 households and businesses on Smith Island, Maryland’s last inhabited island that is not accessible by car.