Frequently Asked Questions

Broadband is a high-speed internet connection that is fast, reliable, and “always on,” allowing people to do online activities like streaming video, attending virtual school or telehealth appointments, working from home, video calling family, using smart home devices, and running online businesses. Broadband is generally understood as internet connectivity that can handle multiple users and devices at the same time without frequent slowdowns, buffering, or dropped connections. Broadband can be delivered through several technologies – including fiber, cable, fixed wireless, and satellite – but the goal is the same: consistent, modern internet access that supports everyday needs for communication, education, healthcare, public safety, and economic growth.

A broadband connection has two speeds: download and upload. Download speed is the speed of getting information from the internet to your computer, and upload speed is the reverse. Today in the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines broadband as a connection with at least 100Mbps download speed and 20Mbps upload speed.

• Enter your address using this tool from the FCC to see providers available to you.
• When considering how much speed you need this article may help - What’s a Good Internet Speed? Find Out How Many Mbps You Need

Wireless internet delivers an internet connection through radio signals rather than a physical cable, allowing devices to connect without being plugged in. This is different from wired internet (fiber or cable), which carry the signal directly to a home or building. Wired connections, especially fiber, are typically faster, more consistent, and less affected by weather, distance, or interference (such as trees or waterways), while wireless service can be easier and quicker to put into place in rural areas but may have more variability in speed and reliability.

• What is wireless internet? A 2025 guide for businesses

A hotspot is a device or feature that provides internet access by using a cellular signal (like a smartphone signal) and then sharing that connection with other devices through Wi-Fi. Many smartphones can act as hotspots, and you can also buy dedicated portable hotspot devices. Hotspots are useful for temporary internet access while traveling or during an outage, but they may have slower speeds, data limits, or higher costs compared to home broadband service. In rural areas with uneven or weak cellular coverage, hotspot performance can be limited or unreliable because it depends on the strength of the local cell signal.

Yes. Read here for more information. Upgrading your router/modem could make a big impact in increased speeds without increasing your monthly bill.

In January 2018, QAC established a Broadband Advisory Council (BAC) with representative members across all four county districts. Since then, the BAC has interviewed every internet service provider (ISP) in the area to discuss their possible involvement in expanding broadband in QAC. This process resulted in hiring an outside consultant (CTC Technology and Energy) to obtain a high-level understanding and estimated cost to serve unserved and underserved areas in QAC (read the 2020 strategic plan). Its main findings (as of 2020) were: 

• Unserved Areas: 4,000 premises lack broadband access in three categories: i) Contiguous areas, ii)  isolated roads, and iii) homes with long driveways.
• Preferred Solution: Fiber-to-the-home offers better scalability and reliability.
• Funding Opportunities: Federal and state programs provide significant support.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborations with ISPs are key to closing gaps.
• Fixed Wireless: A backup option for areas where fiber is not feasible.

Timeline:

The BAC continues to meet every other month  to review areas appropriate for fiber and wireless broadband projects, meets with ISPs, evaluates contracts, and applies for grants. All meetings are open to the public.

• 2019: Maryland launched the Neighborhood Connect grant program and received its first award for the Pioneer Point area.
• 2019-2020: QAC received seven additional Neighborhood Connect grants, expanding service to areas in northern QAC including Kingstown, several smaller crossroads, and later Tilghman Neck.
• 2020 (pandemic period): QAC received funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and used it to expand broadband in low-density areas unlikely to be prioritized by ISPs. This included work with Think Big to build along rural roads such as Peters Corner Road (Millington to Ingleside.
• Late 2020: The ISP Talkie Communications won funding through the federal Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) to expand broadband throughout QAC.
• 2021: Maryland launched additional Infrastructure Grant programs. Choptank Electric received awards to build out large areas, including Price to Willow Branch and parts of southeastern QAC (east of Route 50, south of 304, and north of 404).
• 2023: QAC established a Long Driveway Program (modeled after Charles County) to help residents with the cost of extending broadband down long driveways.
• 2023-2024: To address areas not eligible under the Long Driveway Program, QAC approved a middle-mile grant to reach 10 gap areas, which have now been completed.
• Current: QAC is working with the state of Maryland through the Difficult to Serve program to connect 130 unserved addresses, with Choptank and Talkie selected through the State’s bidding process.
• Future: QAC expects additional expansion through the federal BEAD program (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment), projected to reach approximately 100 more QAC locations.

Progress to date: QAC estimates broadband has been made available to approximately 1,900 homes through its combined efforts.

Remaining need: After completion of the Difficult to Serve and BEAD programs, QAC estimates that approximately 440 homes may still remain unserved.

Next steps for remaining homes: These homes may fall within existing grant-funded build areas or may be eligible for support through the County’s Long Driveway Program, depending on location and available funding.

Total Investments in QAC Broadband to date:

• County - $1.3M
• State - $2.75M (also has ties to Federal funds)
• Federal - $1M
• ISPs - $2.75M
• Total - $7.8M (does not include investment between Choptank and Maryland State that covered areas of Queen Anne’s, Caroline and Somerset Counties totaling $3.6M)

What grant opportunities exist?

Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) – current Maryland State grant in working with the federal government for a specific list of addresses that the State provided directly to ISPs to bid on.  For more information - State Plans

QAC is currently working with the State and two ISPs to complete a specific list of addresses. Maryland State is paying 100% of the build to these addresses to be completed by September 30, 2026.  Grant Programs – FY24 Home Stretch – Difficult to Serve Properties Grant Program

Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) – current Maryland State grant in working with the federal government for a specific list of addresses that the State provided directly to ISPs to bid on.  For more information - State Plans

QAC is currently working with the State and two ISPs to complete a specific list of addresses. Maryland State is paying 100% of the build to these addresses to be completed by September 30, 2026.  Grant Programs – FY24 Home Stretch – Difficult to Serve Properties Grant Program

Long Driveway Grants – funding approved by the QAC Commissioners that allows QAC to provide funding assistance (90% of the build with a maximum of $13,500) to those with long driveways that do not fall in any other grant areas.  Long-Driveway-Grant-Program--Revised_01302026

Approximately 438 households remain unserved with some falling in and out of grant areas on this map.  

There are many reasons why an area does not have broadband access, but the three most common reasons are funding, geography, and density. ISPs will only provide service in the areas they can get a return on their investment. If the housing isn’t dense enough in a particular area, it may not be fiscally responsible for them to provide their service there. The rougher the terrain, the higher the installation cost. The County has no jurisdiction over what companies do; however, as noted earlier, QAC continually works with companies on public-private partnerships to expand broadband access countywide.

The County Commissioner approved a Long Driveway Grant Program in June of 2023. This program will allow residents with internet at the end or their driveway (or within approximately 1500 feet of their driveway) to apply for County funds.

You can help the County’s broadband access grow! Lobby your community leaders and legislators and give examples. Email your Commissioner with concerns or ideas and/or email your elected representatives. You can also participate in a BAC meeting to express concerns and stay engaged in what is happening with broadband locally.

1. Breezeline
   • Contact Information
2. Choptank Fiber
   • Contact Information
3. Talkie Communications

   • Note: In 2020, Talkie Communications received a federal grant from the Rural Development Opportunity Fund to connect unserved or underserved areas. Based on this grant’s auction format, as the lowest bidder (undercutting the price point set by Verizon), Talkie Communications won all the 289 census blocks in QAC. Over 10 years they will receive $3,230,027 ($323,027 annually) to complete this work  Deployment requirements provide that 40% of areas in this grant have service by 2024, 60% by the end of 2025, 80% by the end of 2026 and 100% by the end of 2027.   

4. IQ Fiber (Formerly ThinkBig)

   • Contact Information

5. Comcast

• Bridgemaxx

• Starlink Engineered by SpaceX

• Tidewater WiFi Internet

• Talkie Communications
• Comcast
• IQ Fiber/ThinkBig
• Breezeline  This does not depict the entire Breezeline coverage area (only permits filed since 2021 are mapped) as it is much further reaching.  To determine if a property is in their service area, please refer to their website www.breezeline.com
• Choptank Fiber - This does not depict the entire Choptank coverage area (only permits filled since 2024 are mapped) as it is much further reaching.  To determine if a property is in their service area please refer to their website.”   - Service Locations | Choptank Fiber