Garrett County, Md. brings broadband to remote residents

A Garrett County, Md. farm. Photo courtesy of Visit Deep Creek
Error message
In order to filter by the "in queue" property, you need to add the Entityqueue: Queue relationship.-
County NewsGarrett County, Md. lies in the westernmost part of the state in the Allegheny Mountains and averages 46 people per square mile. It is an internet dead zone.Garrett County, Md. brings broadband to remote residents
-
County News Article
Garrett County, Md. brings broadband to remote residents
Garrett County, Md. lies in the westernmost part of the state in the Allegheny Mountains and averages 46 people per square mile. It is an internet dead zone.
“These people have lived here for generations, before the internet was a thing,” said Nathaniel Watkins, the county’s chief information officer. “It’s not like they’re actively choosing not to have it, the world has changed around them … they can’t compete, their kids have to go to McDonalds to do their homework, it’s a real problem that we’re facing.”
Some of the roadblocks to getting broadband? “We’ve got rocky soils, it’s pretty rugged terrain, it’s not easy or fast to get service to people here without some help,” said Cheryl DeBerry, who serves as the rural broadband project coordinator for Garrett County Economic Development.
After receiving $50,000 in funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission last year, the county matched that and hired a consultant, “to help us figure out what to do,” DeBerry said. They used the competitive bid process to attract a private company, Declaration Networks Group (DNG), to get wireless broadband to residents and later the commission kicked in more funding for design, engineering, equipment and installation.
Wireless
DNG was able to use county and state-owned property to locate equipment needed for wireless internet. “If it doesn’t make sense [to internet service providers] to expand, what can we do? Give them access to our rights of way,” DeBerry said. In addition to state and county-owned property being used to locate equipment, the company also checked to see if they could locate wireless equipment on structures owned by residents who lived in an area where neighbors were clamoring for service.
“The wireless side depends on your neighbors,” said Watkins. “It’s very much neighbors helping neighbors.”
“Our private partners basically field calls from people looking for service,” he said. “Oh, you’re behind the Walmart, and you want service?”
The next call might be to someone in a location that works as a hub for telecom equipment. “Do you mind if we get service to your neighbor by putting something on your building?” That “something” is usually wireless equipment in the 5Ghz spectrum (not to be confused with 5G).
Today, DNG has 600 customers and is adding about 50-70 new customers per month.
Fiber networks
In addition to wireless internet, parts of Garrett County are also being wired for broadband “We’ve been working with local providers as well,” Watkins said.
“We’ve been working with Comcast specifically to get connectivity to several areas. About a year ago, we did a pilot program with them.”
The pilot program consisted of cooperation between the county and Comcast when it came to digging. “Doing the underground work — digging trenches to lay down wires, was the biggest hurdle for Comcast,” Watkins said. “We said ‘Hey, if we’re willing to dig the ditch for you guys…” And that worked. It turns out, that’s a big expense. We said we’ll dig the ditch if you give us our own conduit to use and let other ISPs use it as well. We dug the ditch. They gave us two sets of conduit, one for their use, one for us. It all started with us showing we’re willing to work with them.”
Comcast was able to add about 45 customers and several small businesses, who previously had no service options at all other than satellite. Since then Comcast, the largest home ISP in the country, is expanding service, on its own dime, to bring service to about 200 more homes.
Garrett County, Md. lies in the westernmost part of the state in the Allegheny Mountains and averages 46 people per square mile. It is an internet dead zone.2018-10-15County News Article2018-10-16
Garrett County, Md. lies in the westernmost part of the state in the Allegheny Mountains and averages 46 people per square mile. It is an internet dead zone.
“These people have lived here for generations, before the internet was a thing,” said Nathaniel Watkins, the county’s chief information officer. “It’s not like they’re actively choosing not to have it, the world has changed around them … they can’t compete, their kids have to go to McDonalds to do their homework, it’s a real problem that we’re facing.”
Some of the roadblocks to getting broadband? “We’ve got rocky soils, it’s pretty rugged terrain, it’s not easy or fast to get service to people here without some help,” said Cheryl DeBerry, who serves as the rural broadband project coordinator for Garrett County Economic Development.
After receiving $50,000 in funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission last year, the county matched that and hired a consultant, “to help us figure out what to do,” DeBerry said. They used the competitive bid process to attract a private company, Declaration Networks Group (DNG), to get wireless broadband to residents and later the commission kicked in more funding for design, engineering, equipment and installation.
Wireless
DNG was able to use county and state-owned property to locate equipment needed for wireless internet. “If it doesn’t make sense [to internet service providers] to expand, what can we do? Give them access to our rights of way,” DeBerry said. In addition to state and county-owned property being used to locate equipment, the company also checked to see if they could locate wireless equipment on structures owned by residents who lived in an area where neighbors were clamoring for service.
“The wireless side depends on your neighbors,” said Watkins. “It’s very much neighbors helping neighbors.”
“Our private partners basically field calls from people looking for service,” he said. “Oh, you’re behind the Walmart, and you want service?”
The next call might be to someone in a location that works as a hub for telecom equipment. “Do you mind if we get service to your neighbor by putting something on your building?” That “something” is usually wireless equipment in the 5Ghz spectrum (not to be confused with 5G).
Today, DNG has 600 customers and is adding about 50-70 new customers per month.
Fiber networks
In addition to wireless internet, parts of Garrett County are also being wired for broadband “We’ve been working with local providers as well,” Watkins said.
“We’ve been working with Comcast specifically to get connectivity to several areas. About a year ago, we did a pilot program with them.”
The pilot program consisted of cooperation between the county and Comcast when it came to digging. “Doing the underground work — digging trenches to lay down wires, was the biggest hurdle for Comcast,” Watkins said. “We said ‘Hey, if we’re willing to dig the ditch for you guys…” And that worked. It turns out, that’s a big expense. We said we’ll dig the ditch if you give us our own conduit to use and let other ISPs use it as well. We dug the ditch. They gave us two sets of conduit, one for their use, one for us. It all started with us showing we’re willing to work with them.”
Comcast was able to add about 45 customers and several small businesses, who previously had no service options at all other than satellite. Since then Comcast, the largest home ISP in the country, is expanding service, on its own dime, to bring service to about 200 more homes.
Hero 1
About Mary Ann Barton (Full Bio)
County News Editor & Senior Writer
Mary Ann is the County News editor and senior staff writer and is returning to NACo after previously working at the association. She comes to NACo after covering local news for Patch.com in Northern Virginia.More from Mary Ann Barton
-
Reports & Toolkits
County News Spotlight: Rural Broadband
For rural counties, broadband internet supports commerce, medicine, agriculture and educational opportunities that even the playing field in attracting and retaining residents and steadying economic health.
-
Webinar
Whole-of-State 2.0: A Tale of Two States and Counties
Mar. 9, 2023 , 1:00 pm – 2:00 pmUnable to attend? Watch the recording below. No matter where you are in your cybersecurity journey - you've probably heard of Whole-of-State. What does this mean for your jurisdiction? -
Webinar
NACo Cyberattack Simulation: Election Disruptions
Feb. 27, 2023 – Mar. 3, 2023Presented by the NACo County Tech Xchange and Professional Development Academy -
Webinar
Executive Perspectives on Preparing for an ERP Replacement Project
Feb. 22, 2023 , 3:00 pm – 4:00 pmUnable to attend? Watch the recording below. -
County News
‘When we’re not connected, we’re not safe,’ because buildings block radio
In a room packed with about 100 conference attendees, Guilford County, N.C. Commissioner Alan Perdue gave a powerful presentation Saturday morning on the importance of clear communication among emergency responders. -
-
Reports & Toolkits
NACo Technology Guide for County Leaders: Workforce
The NACo County Technology Advisory Council, with input from the Tech Xchange and the NACo Workforce Advisory Board, has developed a guide on workforce retention and recruitment for technology workers. This guide provides an overview, along with benefits and questions to consider in the technology recruitment and retention process
-
Webinar
NACo Cyberattack Simulation: Internet of Things
June 12, 2023 – June 16, 2023Presented by the NACo County Tech Xchange and Professional Development Academy06121:00 pm<p><em>Presented by the NACo County Tech Xchange and Professional Development Academy</em></p>
-
Webinar
NACo Cyberattack Simulation: Ransomware
September 11, 2023 – September 15, 2023Presented by the NACo County Tech Xchange and Professional Development Academy09111:00 pm<p><em>Presented by the NACo County Tech Xchange and Professional Development Academy</em></p>
-
Webinar
NACo Cyberattack Simulation: Employee Management
December 4, 2023 – December 8, 2023Presented by the NACo County Tech Xchange and Professional Development Academy12041:00 pm<p><em>Presented by the NACo County Tech Xchange and Professional Development Academy</em></p>
-
Basic page
County Tech Xchange
The NACo County Tech Xchange is an online portal designed to connect county CIOs, IT Directors, CISOs, and other county IT leadership. This portal provides valuable resources in a central location that counties can use to improve their overall technology infrastructure.pagepagepage<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out transparent">
<tbody>
<tr> -
Basic page
TestIT: How Fast is Your Broadband
NACo has partnered with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) to develop a mobile app designed to identify areas with low or no connectivity to help ensure adequate funding for broadband infrastructure is provided across the country.pagepagepage<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td> -
Basic page
Telecommunications & Technology Steering Committee
All matters pertaining to telecommunications and technology policy, including, but not limited to, the county role as a telecommunications regulator, service provider, and consumer, cable services technology and implementation, information technology development and implementation, information technology innovation, e-governance, and geo-spatial data collection and utilization.pagepagepage<p>All matters pertaining to telecommunications and technology policy, including, but not limited to, the county role as a telecommunications regulator, service provider, and consumer, cable services technology and implementation, info
-
Reports & Toolkits
Implementing Infrastructure Investments at the County Level: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (P.L. 117-58)
As intergovernmental partners, counties play a key role in ensuring the successful interpretation and implementation of the BILReports & Toolkitsdocument100710:00 amReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out transparent jump">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Contact
-
County News Editor & Senior Writer(202) 942-4223
Related Resources
-
County News
‘When we’re not connected, we’re not safe,’ because buildings block radio
In a room packed with about 100 conference attendees, Guilford County, N.C. Commissioner Alan Perdue gave a powerful presentation Saturday morning on the importance of clear communication among emergency responders. -
County News
TikTok: It’s hip, it’s fun and it’s a security risk
What threat does TikTok pose to data security, and how should counties regulate its use on government-issued devices? -
Blog
Data sharing paramount in modern county operations
Everyone wants data. Everyone needs authoritative data. GIS is the underlying infrastructure for sharing data instantly in your county.
-
-
Reports & Toolkits
NACo Technology Guide for County Leaders: Workforce
The NACo County Technology Advisory Council, with input from the Tech Xchange and the NACo Workforce Advisory Board, has developed a guide on workforce retention and recruitment for technology workers. This guide provides an overview, along with benefits and questions to consider in the technology recruitment and retention process -
Policy Brief
Support the Deployment of Next Generation 911 Bill
Urge your Members of Congress to support legislation to provide funding for the deployment of Next Generation 9-1-1 and for other purposes. Introduced by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) in the previous Congress, the legislation would provide for the establishment of Next Generation 9-1-1 and would vastly improve interoperability with regards to all emergency communication systems. The bill would also establish a Next Generation 9-1-1 cybersecurity center to coordinate with state, local and regional governments to detect and prevent cybersecurity intrusions related to Next Generation 9-1-1.
Related Events
More From
-
Outreach Toolkit for Counties: the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program
Through the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program, counties have a central role in providing all residents with an equal chance to connect to high-speed internet in their homes.
Learn More