Broadband in rural Maryland? How Eastern Shore could get new provider

Lucas Gonzalez | The Daily Times

Show Caption Hide Caption MDOT Secretary Pete K. Rahn talks SmartPonds at Fruitland Walmart MDOT Secretary Pete K. Rahn talks about SmartPonds at Fruitland's Walmart on Nov. 19, 2019.

Maryland's Eastern Shore could receive a new Internet service option come next year, but consumers may need to act soon to make that happen.

Choptank Electric Cooperative, a not-for-profit electric cooperative, has announced plans to add broadband to its range of services. Through a new initiative, co-op members want to bring high-speed internet services to underserved rural communities, according to a statement from Choptank.

In January, Choptank will ask the Maryland General Assembly to allow regulatory flexibility that would help the cooperative deliver broadband access to rural communities.

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"In order to deliver last-mile service, we will seek permission to use our economies-of-scale and top-notch staff — with a process called 'Member Regulation'," Choptank CEO Mike Malandro said in the statement. "This will make our Board more nimble in the effort to expand service options."

Malandro said he plans to apply a method he used to launch Ruralband, a broadband affiliate of Prince George Electric Cooperative in Virginia. The effort's successful jump-start was made possible through federal and local grants, according to the statement.

"The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is expected to auction off over $20 billion for broadband delivery to rural communities next year," Malandro said. "I’d like to position Choptank to bid on those funds to provide broadband to members faster and more comprehensively than other start-ups."

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Ahead of the first day of the General Assembly's 2020 session, Choptank is drawing support for its broadband initiative. The cooperative will collect online signatures through Jan. 7 — one day before the legislative session begins.

"We are ready to take on the challenge," said Jeff Rathell, chairman of the Board of Directors. "If we can get some leeway in state regulations, this not-for-profit can deliver a whole lot more to our members."

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We’ve heard you loud and clear – you want access to broadband! As your electric cooperative, we want to deliver that access. Visit https://t.co/WTk7sMuJRX to show your support before the January 7 deadline. Learn more at https://t.co/AhYK4r90IH. pic.twitter.com/jFpLcvmT8n — Choptank Electric (@choptankcoop) December 5, 2019

Follow reporter Lucas Gonzalez on Twitter @fez_irl.

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