Governor Moore Announces Completion of Broadband Infrastructure Project to Bring High-Speed Internet to Smith Island
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today 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, located in Somerset County on the Chesapeake Bay. Advanced internet speeds through Verizon will allow residents to reliably access critical digital tools like telehealth appointments, online education, video streaming, file downloads and uploads, and more.
“Every Marylander deserves high-speed internet access, no matter where they live,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “Today’s milestone at Smith Island gets us closer to closing the state’s digital divide and ensuring every corner of our state – from our biggest cities to our smallest towns – is connected to high speed-internet by the end of this decade.”
“Verizon is proud to bring its award-winning network to the residents of Smith Island, Maryland,” said Verizon Vice President of State and Government Affairs Tony Lewis. “In partnership with Governor Wes Moore and the state of Maryland, we are able to foster economic growth and open access to entertainment, telehealth, and education resources. This innovative deployment will connect loved ones and open up a world of possibilities for the community.”
Governor Moore’s visit today marks the first time a sitting governor has traveled to Smith Island since 1999. The governor, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day, and Verizon officials met with local business owners from the local food service, hospitality, grocery, and tourism industries to hear how internet access has improved their business operations. The visit also included a demonstration from the University of Maryland Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Research and Operations Center, which will use the improved internet access to deploy drone technology for medical deliveries across the island’s three communities.
“The people of Smith Island would like to thank Governor Moore and his staff, Secretary Jake Day and his staff at the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, and Verizon for the installation of the 5G network on Smith Island,” said Smith Island United President Eddie Somers. “This system will lead Smith Island residents, and especially its small businesses, into the future. There’s no doubt this is a game changer for Smith Island.”
“On behalf of the Somerset County Commissioners, thank you to the Moore-Miller Administration for making such a critical investment in the future of Smith Island. Access to high-speed internet will open doors to countless opportunities for residents, from healthcare and education to business and culture,” said Somerset County Commission Vice President Randy Laird. “We are grateful to Governor Moore for visiting Smith Island and meeting with residents to share in celebrating this exciting initiative.”
Today’s visit to Smith Island is the latest example of the administration’s work to connect every Marylander to high-speed, affordable internet by 2030. In June, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development announced $13.69 million in Fiscal Year 2025 awards through the Home Stretch for Public Housing program. Administered by the Department’s Office of Statewide Broadband, the funding will support projects to provide internet access to approximately 12,877 unserved Maryland households.
Since Governor Moore’s inauguration, the Office of Statewide Broadband has connected 43,862 households, bringing reliable internet access to an estimated 113,164 Marylanders. To date, the office has invested $145.8 million in infrastructure grants and $35.8 million in digital equity grants.
Following the visit to Smith Island, Governor Moore joined The Crab Place owners Greg and Matt Cain and Salisbury-based real estate developer Davis Strategic for a site visit to the proposed Seventh Street Marina development project in Crisfield. The concepts shared with the governor today outline a 14.5-acre mixed use development, which would deliver more than 100 housing units; multiple hotels, restaurants, event venues, and recreational spaces; and a marina with capacity to hold over two dozen boats. The project, if approved, could bring approximately $100 million in capital investments and more than 100 permanent jobs to Somerset County—marking one of the largest private developments in the county’s history.
The governor also stopped by The Crab Place, one of Maryland’s oldest blue crab retailers and packaging plants. The Crab Place is a tourism anchor for Crisfield, and has partnered with Davis Strategic to pursue lucrative development opportunities in the region.
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CONTACT:
Allison Foster, Director of Communications – allison.foster@maryland.gov
