The Federal government has awarded Maryland $267 million to ensure that all residents have access to 100/20 Mbps broadband internet service. To receive funding, locations where residents are receiving slower service must be on recently released internet service eligibility maps. Montgomery County is now asking residents who are receiving slower service to notify it before Thursday, Sept. 5, so it can file any challenges to the eligibility maps as part of the Federal grant process.

Properties without 25/3 Mbps internet service (“unserved”), or properties where the level of broadband service is not at least 100/20 Mbps, are eligible to receive grant funding to bring 100/100 Mbps to the property. A property is eligible to receive grant funding only if it is listed on the map as being unserved or having less than 100/20 Mbps internet service.

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“We know that access to high-speed internet is essential for all our residents—whether for work, school, or staying connected with loved ones,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “That’s why we’re asking those still dealing with slower internet speeds to take a few minutes to help us identify the gaps in service. This valuable input will help us secure the funding to bring better broadband to every corner of Montgomery County. If you’re experiencing slower speeds, please take a speed test and let us know. Together, we can ensure no one in our community is left behind in the digital age.”

All mapping challenges must be filed by Montgomery County on behalf of residents. The County Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS) has identified less than a dozen rural properties that do not have access to internet service or have an existing grant commitment to extend internet service to the property. This means for these properties, there is no provider who offers 100/20 Mbps internet service to these properties and no provider has a requirement or other grant funding to provide service.

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TEBS is working to ensure all these rural properties are on the eligibility map. Any resident who does not have access to internet service should go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/internetchallenge and follow the instructions to provide their address to TEBS. TEBS will confirm whether the property is already on the map or will request to have it added.

More difficult to identify are residential properties, especially older apartment buildings, where only lower-speed internet service is available or higher internet speed is offered, but internet service of at least 100/20 Mbps is not actually available. To make these properties eligible for grant funding:

• Residents must be subscribed to at least 100/20 Mbps internet service and have a bill or photo of a bill from within the last 60 days that they can submit.
• Residents must take a speed test, e.g., at https://www.speedtest.net/ , on three separate days, and take a screenshot or photo of each of the three speed tests.
• Residents must go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/internetchallenge and upload the photos of their internet service bill and screenshots or photos of the three speed tests. Documentation of slower speeds must be forwarded to Montgomery County by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday Sept. 5, to be included in the survey.

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