ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Allan H. Kittleman has announced a new public-private partnership leveraging the power of the Inter-County Broadband Network (ICBN) to bring high-speed Internet service to underserved portions of western Howard County. Freedom Broadband has connected its Wi-Fi equipment to the ICBN fiber, and is now offering homes and businesses in Mount Airy the opportunity to purchase high-speed, wireless broadband, with no data limits. The service is being offered at no cost to the county.
“Broadband has become a vital utility,” said Kittleman. “I’ve heard from teachers and students who don’t have broadband in their homes. They often have to go back to school after hours just to access the internet there. I have also heard from small businesses and residents who are unable to work from home. This partnership will give families and businesses in this part of the County the same opportunity for broadband access as those families who live in the central and eastern part of the County. At the same time, it will allow people to spend more time at home with their families.”
The county’s partner, Freedom Broadband, offers wireless Internet service in central Maryland and a small portion of south central Pennsylvania where traditional providers are not available. The company provides alternatives to satellite and mobile 4G/LTE plans with no data caps. For its first connection, Freedom Broadband has installed its Wi-Fi equipment atop a Mount Airy water tower.
