New grant helping improve internet access in Queen Anne's County

New grant helping improve internet access in Queen Anne's County

FOR MARYLANDERS NOW.

LAST YEARVIRTUAL LEARNING WAS ACHALLENGE.

THIS YEAR REMOTESCHOOLING WILL BE EVEN BIGGER.WMAR 2 NEWS'S DON HARRISONTELLS US ABOUT SOME STATEGRANTS THAT WILL MAKE IT MUCBETTER.Governor Larry Hogan released10 million dollars for internetconnectivity to 21 of the 24jurisdictions in the state.With virtual schooling in themix for this year, access tothe internet is one of thebiggest problems and it's anexpensive fix.

Sot: It wicost between 38 and 42 milliondollars to run fiberconnectivity throughout thecounty.

Track; Jim Moran isone of the countycommissioners in Queen Anne'scounty.

Queen Anne's countyreserved a $708,000 grant forinternet improvements.

Thisthe 4th hightest amount in thestate, it's a lot for areason.

Sot: We have probableby land mass, I would sayprobable 40% of the county inot covered Track: Moran saysthe pandemic has exposes someproblems in the school systemsand no internet for homelearning is at the top of thatlist.

The county in previousyears supplied chrome booksfor every student now gettingthem connected is key.

Theschool system will try severalsolutions.

Getting portablwifi devices to take home,installing wifi hubs so onecan drive to a school parkinglot and log on are in thworks.

Stand up: There aresome places in the countywhere it can be up to a 40minute drive to get to aschool parking lot to usetheir wifi there so, they arelooking into other options tmake it more convenient.

Sot:So we are looking at puttingthem in the parks or otherprivate locations in thecounty throughout the countyto make it easier access forthe students and their parentto get connectivity for theireducation.

Sot: This money canbe used to cover some of thecost from last year to helpstudents with internetproblems. sot: This issomething that we've alwaysknow, we've tried to addressthis issue numerous times but,the ticket, the dollar amounton this is tremendous.

Track:With help from governor Hogan,it's is not a possibility.

InQA county, DHHOMELESS ADVOICATES WANTACTION AND ANSWER