ANNAPOLIS, MD—Maryland Governor Wes Moore has established the Digital Infrastructure Group, an interagency partnership aimed at streamlining the development of broadband infrastructure across the state.
The group, formed through an executive order (PDF) signed on January 7, will foster collaboration between state and county entities. This collaboration will lead to increased internet coverage, boost state revenue, eliminate financial inefficiencies, and bridge the digital divide.
The Moore-Miller administration will implement a shared broadband infrastructure model, a first-of-its-kind initiative in the nation. The goal is to eliminate redundancies and eliminate silos within the state’s broadband infrastructure. Maryland is one of the few states in the country where multiple state agencies have access to both wired and wireless infrastructure. For example, networkMaryland, a state-owned broadband network overseen by the Department of Information Technology (DoIT), has already generated significant financial savings for the state, with an estimated $90 million in annual cost reductions.
However, a lack of a comprehensive governance system has hindered the effective coordination of public-sector broadband infrastructure development. This shortcoming has resulted in financial inefficiencies stemming from redundant infrastructure, hindering the ability of state and local agencies to fulfill their missions and expand services into underserved areas.
The state will benefit from a centralized planning body by naming DoIT as the lead of the interagency partnership. This structure will streamline resource allocation, empowering agencies to collaborate on infrastructure projects that support state priorities. Enhanced access to broadband will benefit transportation systems, smart device initiatives, government agencies, and community anchor institutions, enabling the state to deliver more responsive government services. The state’s infrastructure will also extend to historically underserved areas like the Eastern Shore, which has historically had low internet coverage.
“Maryland is in a prime position to spearhead the nation’s first state Digital Infrastructure Group,” said DoIT Secretary Katie Savage. “The state’s internal expertise, coupled with advanced geospatial platforms and existing infrastructure, will provide the necessary tools for effective planning and coordination of infrastructure development. This shift from a reactive and uncoordinated approach to a strategic and unified model will optimize taxpayer dollars and create opportunities to increase state revenue from major internet service providers and cellular carriers.”
Eric Bathras, DoIT’s Chief Technology Officer for Infrastructure, will lead the Digital Infrastructure Group. Bathras has over 30 years of experience in both the public and private sectors in the field of broadband networks. His experience in both sectors will enable the state to seamlessly integrate innovations from private-sector internet service providers into the state’s broadband infrastructure.
The Digital Infrastructure Group will utilize a detailed data map of public sector broadband assets through DoIT’s internal geospatial platform, known as “the Single View.” This innovative platform, akin to Single View platforms used by numerous private sector internet service providers, will serve as a comprehensive, visual data dashboard. The platform will not only support DoIT’s asset management efforts but also identify opportunities for resource-sharing programs. These programs allow private sector internet service providers and cellular carriers to utilize state-owned broadband assets for a fee, contributing to the state’s budget.
Maryland’s commitment to collaboration and functionality positions the state to establish a new national standard in broadband coordination and investment. These investments will lead to improved financial efficiency and empower the state to deliver vital government services.
This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.
Do you value local journalism? Support NottinghamMD.com today.
