THINKBIG NETWORKS & CHARLES COUNTY EXPANSION
Overview
In partnership with ThinkBig Networks, Maryland Broadband Cooperative (MdBC) has
played a pivotal role in expanding broadband access throughout Charles County, Maryland. This initiative builds on a long history of strategic collaborations across state, local, and private sector partners to tackle persistent connectivity challenges in Southern Maryland—especially in hard-to-reach areas like Nanjemoy.
By leveraging MdBC’s robust infrastructure and offering discounted access to its services,
this project successfully delivered high-speed internet to hundreds of previously unserved
residents, catalyzing both economic and community development across the region.
Project Components
- Strategic Fiber Deployment in Charles County
Charles County has long been a part of MdBC’s vision for universal statewide broadband access. Initially, MdBC had no assets in the region, but that began to change in 2010 through federal BTOP funding. As a sub-recipient of this grant, MdBC collaboratedwith the State of Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT) to construct middle-mile fiber infrastructure stretching across Charles County—from Hughesville to La Plata, into Nanjemoy, and toward Bryans Road. This expansion uniquely positioned Charles County as the first county in Maryland to host three MdBC Points of Presence (PoPs).
- ThinkBig Partnership and ISP Enablement
When Charles County sought to extend fiber-to-the-premises services to underserved residents, several ISPs submitted proposals. Ultimately, the county selected ThinkBig Networks, an entrepreneurial ISP with existing ties to MdBC through prior collaborations in Kent County. MdBC supported ThinkBig by:
- Providing colocation space at its La Plata and Nanjemoy PoPs
- Granting access to dark fiber assets extending into Nanjemoy and Newburg
- Supplying high-speed backhaul transport circuits, creating a ring that connected Kent County to Charles County and on to Northern Virginia
- In support of Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Office of Rural Broadband (now Office of Statewide Broadband) offered all services in Charles County at a discount for the first three years, to ensure sustainability and accelerate deployment.
These strategic offerings allowed ThinkBig to rapidly scale service delivery and business
development in Charles County
Community Impact
Expanded Broadband Access
The crown jewel of the expansion was the successful connection of Nanjemoy, a community long identified as one of the most challenging broadband gaps in Maryland. Residents now enjoy up to 1 Gbps services—putting them on par with urban areas and surpassing many in terms of speed and reliability.
Economic Development and Quality of Life
This investment didn’t just bring broadband—it brought opportunity. By enabling modern connectivity, residents can now work remotely, participate in digital education, and access telehealth services transforming Nanjemoy from a chronically underserved area into a connected, thriving part of ruraln Maryland.
Funding and Support
This collaborative effort was made possible through the support of multiple public and privaten stakeholders:
- Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT)
- Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT)
- Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Office of Rural Broadband (now Office of Statewide Broadband)
- Charles County Government
- Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland
- ThinkBig Networks
- Maryland Broadband Cooperative (MdBC)
- Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) – whose property hosts the Nanjemoy PoP
- University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) – the La Plata PoP is located at UM Charles Regional Medical Center
Legacy and Vision
This project is a testament to MdBC’s cooperative model and long-term mission: delivering future-ready infrastructure where it’s needed most. With hundreds of homes now connected and ThinkBig quintupling its service capacity in 2025 to meet growing demand, this initiative represents a scalable model for the future of rural communities. Additionally, ThinkBig’s success in Charles County has spurred its expansion into neighboring underserved counties, demonstrating how smart public-private partnerships can solve generational infrastructure challenges. “Nanjemoy was one of the first intractable broadband problems I encountered in 2009. To know that today they have gigabit service is personally and professionally gratifying.”
— Drew Van Dopp, President & CEO, MdBC
For More Information
Maryland Broadband Cooperative
(410) 341-6322
[email protected]
www.MdBC.us
