Mayor James Ireton, Jr. today announced a far-reaching proposal for Salisbury to partner with the Maryland Broadband Cooperative to expand access to high-speed internet for businesses and residents Downtown.
“Partnering with MD Broadband is good for Salisbury, because it’s good for business and good for Downtown,” said Mayor Ireton. “We have just completed the final phase of installation of our Downtown Wi-Fi, and we now look forward to providing the fastest broadband access throughout our City’s core. These technological initiatives keep us working at the speed of modern business. Moreover, the infrastructure being put in place through the City’s Main Street Master Plan presents us with the perfect opportunity to put this technology in the ground to create jobs on the street.”
The Maryland Broadband Cooperative (MDBC) is a public/private partnership whose mission is to drive economic development through universal, open access to broadband services via an expanding fiber optic network that serves rural Maryland.
Under the proposed arrangement, the MDBC will design and maintain the network, and provide broadband internet access via its statewide fiber optic network. Salisbury Public Works will install the necessary infrastructure during street excavations which will already be underway as part of the Main Street Master Plan facelift of Downtown. A four inch (4”) conduit will carry fiber optic cable under portions of Main Street and Division Street, bringing high-speed internet connectivity throughout Downtown Salisbury—from Route 50, south to Main Street, and from Division Street, west to Mill Street. The mayor will propose to the City Council, this Monday, that the City fund the $200,000 project.
“Downtown Salisbury is one of a few economic bright spots in the region,” said Salisbury City Council President, Jake Day. “It is a center of innovation that is home to entrepreneurs, a co-working space, and a booming cultural scene. This collaboration with MDBC, funded by the City of Salisbury will provide super-fast, high-speed fiber connectivity competitive with the fastest cities in the country and the world. Every block of Downtown Salisbury will soon be on the cutting edge and will be the premier district to start and grow a business on the Delmarva Peninsula.”
W. Patrick Mitchell, president & CEO of the Maryland Broadband Cooperative said, “We are very excited to partner with the City of Salisbury on this important project for people who live, work, and play in Salisbury. Working with our membership after this project is complete to offer world class internet services is simply at the core of our mission.”
Work on the Main Street Master Plan is expected to begin in October of this year.
