LA PLATA, Md. — At the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Jan. 14, 2025, the Charles County Broadband Task Force provided an update on its efforts to improve high-speed internet access across the county. The presentation outlined progress on grant-funded broadband infrastructure projects and highlighted ongoing initiatives, including the county’s Long Driveway Grant Program, which is still accepting applications from residents.
The task force, composed of county staff and community representatives, discussed several important broadband projects currently in progress. Notably, the Nanjemoy North Broadband Buildout, which began construction in July 2023, is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 31, 2025. As of the meeting, ThinkBig Networks had already connected 130 homes, with 260 homes passed, and only three remaining construction segments awaiting easements.
The FY22 Maryland Infrastructure Grant Broadband Buildout with Comcast is another major initiative. Comcast is currently working on bringing broadband service to areas including Newburg, Dentsville, Charlotte Hall, and a few additional homes in Hughesville. The project is set to pass 998 locations, including residences and businesses, and is scheduled for completion by Aug. 31, 2025.
A significant development in broadband expansion is the Long Driveway Grant Program (LD-Cat3), which supports connecting homes at the end of long private driveways to the broadband network. As part of this effort, the county has already provided grants for service drop installations to 160 residents, totaling approximately $100,000 in funding.
The Difficult-to-Serve Properties Grant, awarded to Charles County in March 2024, will help fund projects focused on connecting “difficult-to-serve” properties. The grant covers up to 75% of installation costs, with a maximum grant amount of $8,000 per location. The first batch of 34 addresses was submitted to Comcast in December 2024.
The task force emphasized the importance of ongoing data collection and urged residents without high-speed internet access to fill out an Internet Service Questionnaire on the county’s website.
For more information, residents are encouraged to visit the county’s rural broadband page and interactive map at Charles County Rural Broadband.
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