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Carroll County government officials are seeking input from residents and businesses in the county through a survey on broadband internet access. The Carroll County Residential Broadband Survey aims to identify areas in the county that lack broadband infrastructure or have internet service that does not meet the minimum recommended speed set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Broadband refers to high-speed internet access that is always on and faster than traditional dial-up access. It encompasses various technologies such as fiber, wireless, satellite, digital subscriber line, and cable. The actual speeds of broadband connections vary depending on the service provider, with the FCC requiring a minimum of 25 megabits per second for downloads and 3 megabits per second for uploads.

By collecting data through the survey, the county hopes to gain a clearer understanding of residents’ access to high-speed internet and develop a plan to improve broadband access across the area. Survey results may also play a role in securing grant and infrastructure funding for broadband expansion projects.

While approximately 90% of Carroll County already has some form of internet access, including satellite and 5G hotspots, there are still pockets of the county that remain unserved or underserved. These areas may have unreliable service or slow internet speeds. County officials have been working to address this issue and have partnered with private internet service providers (ISPs) to extend their networks using the county’s fiber network.

Over the past 18 months, Carroll County service providers have secured million in state and federal funding to bring broadband to previously unserved households. This makes Carroll County the recipient of the largest amount of broadband development funding in the state. However, there are still approximately 3,000 households that remain unserved and are not covered by the current expansion plan.

Since 2007, the county has invested .6 million in building broadband infrastructure and expects to complete infrastructure construction by 2025. The initial construction involved laying more than 110 miles of fiber optic lines, enabling numerous local and state agencies to connect to the network. Subsequent expansion projects have further extended broadband access to additional areas and business parks in the county.

The survey is accessible online and is estimated to take approximately five minutes to complete. Residents and businesses with limited or no internet access can request a paper copy of the survey by calling 410-386-2309. The information gathered from the survey will assist Carroll County officials in identifying and addressing the remaining unserved areas and improving broadband internet access for all residents.

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