MdBC & Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC): Advancing Western Maryland Connectivity

05/20/2025 | Maryland Broadband Cooperative |

Overview

In 2018, Maryland Broadband Cooperative (MdBC), in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the Maryland Department of Commerce, and the Tri-County Council for Western Maryland, embarked on a transformative infrastructure effort to extend and activate dormant fiber assets in Allegany and Garrett Counties. With a total investment of $484,000, the project closed critical gaps left unfinished by a previous federal project—improving broadband resilience, reach, and performance across the region.

Through strong multi-agency collaboration and technical ingenuity, MdBC leveraged this initiative not only to complete overdue infrastructure work, but also to enable future growth, support local ISPs, and improve economic conditions in Western Maryland.

Project Components

Completing the Vision of BTOP in Western Maryland

This ARC-funded initiative built upon the foundation laid by the 2010 Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant awarded to the State of Maryland. While that grant—one of the largest and conceived to be one of the most ambitious in the nation—created significant fiber backbones in Western Maryland, it fell short of its desired goals due to unanticipated costs across the state. 

The 2018 ARC project addressed these unfinished segments by:

  • Splicing unconnected lateral fibers built under BTOP to MdBC’s interstate network
  • Constructing a new fiber path from Cumberland to LaVale, creating the foundation for ring protection
  • Establishing a new Point of Presence (PoP) at the Maryland SHA facility near Frostburg
  • Extending fiber connections to multiple business parks previously bypassed by earlier projects

Strategic Collaborations Yield Cost Savings

During the initial phase, MdBC coordinated closely with the Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT) and Allegany County Public Schools, which were simultaneously building new fiber routes to support a new local high school. By leveraging this effort, MdBC significantly reduced construction costs and was able to expand the project scope.

These savings allowed MdBC to request and receive ARC approval for expanded project deliverables, including the establishment of a new PoP that would become central to optical ring protection in Garrett County.

Enhancing Network Resiliency and Optical Infrastructure

Thanks to this project, MdBC was able to:

  • Deliver optical ring protection for the first time in Garrett County, ensuring failover capabilities in the event of fiber cuts or natural disasters
  • Move from a roadside cabinet to an advanced switching center by relocating its Oakland PoP into the Dennett Road Data Center, a secure facility operated by Garrett County’s IT department

This transition significantly improved uptime, reliability, and long-term scalability.

Community Impact

Expanded Broadband Access and Redundancy

By connecting critical infrastructure and lighting previously dormant fiber, the project empowered ISPs in Western Maryland to dramatically scale services. One local ISP, previously limited to 200 Mbps, was able to upgrade to 10 Gbps, serving residential customers with faster, more reliable internet—without service interruptions during outages thanks to ring protection.

Business Park Activation and Economic Growth

The project brought fiber directly into previously unreachable business parks including:

  • McHenry Business Park
  • Keyser’s Ridge Business Park
  • Central Garrett Business Park
  • Southern Garrett Industrial Park

These connections have since supported tenant attraction and retention by meeting modern technology demands in rural business zones—unlocking economic opportunity in areas previously underserved.

Funding and Support

This milestone project was a product of strong interagency and regional cooperation, with funding and logistical support from:

  • Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
  • Maryland Department of Commerce
  • Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT)
  • State Highway Administration
  • Allegany County Public Schools
  • Tri-County Council for Western Maryland
  • Garrett County Government
  • Maryland Broadband Cooperative (MdBC)

Legacy and Vision

More than just a technical upgrade, this project represents the power of sustained mission alignment and public-private coordination. It retroactively fulfilled the original goals of Maryland’s BTOP investment and laid the groundwork for even greater connectivity in 2025 and beyond.

MdBC’s continued collaboration with ARC will build on this success with another major infrastructure initiative proposed for 2025—further enhancing connectivity along I-68 from Keysers Ridge to Frostburg to LaVale, and increasing the return on investment of the 2018 build.

“This is a perfect example of how mission-driven organizations can align over time to build something truly transformative. A $484,000 investment created outsized regional value—both economically and operationally.”
— Drew Van Dopp, President & CEO, MdBC

For More Information

Maryland Broadband Cooperative
(410) 341-6322
Info@MdBC.US
www.MdBC.us

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