New Broadband at Chesapeake Bay Business Park

Stevensville, MD - Choptank Fiber, LLC and Queen Anne’s County officials celebrated another broadband milestone this month with a ribbon cutting at the Chesapeake Bay Business Park on Kent Island. On hand to cut the ribbon were members of the Choptank leadership team and representatives of the Queen Anne's County Economic & Tourism Development and Broadband Advisory Council, the Upper Shore Regional Council, and the Maryland Department of Commerce.

The need for top-notch fiber broadband service was identified by the Queen Anne’s County Broadband Advisory Council more than 2 years ago as they worked through their plan to get high-speed, fiber internet service to all residents and businesses in the County.

“As a member-owned electric cooperative, we were addressing a vital need identified by our members when we launched the fiber broadband business,” explained Mike Malandro, President & CEO of Choptank Electric Cooperative. “Extending service to this Business Park helps bring world class businesses with competitive wages to the Eastern Shore.”

Using funds from the Rural Economic Development Fund through the Maryland Department of Commerce and the Upper Shore Regional Council, Queen Anne’s County Economic & Tourism Development put out a request for proposal for a partnership to install underground fiber capable of uninterrupted service in any weather condition along a 1.89 mile path at the business park.

Choptank Fiber, LLC, a subsidiary of Choptank Electric Cooperative, won the bid and was awarded $71,201 in construction cost-share from the county to complete the project. Choptank contributed an additional $271,000 to install the high-speed fiber, upgrade the backbone equipment and create a ready-to-serve option for each business in the park.

KRM Development manages 85-acres of prime business and commercial properties at the location. The Park has more than 80 businesses that require uninterrupted internet access to serve customers nearby and around the world including daycare providers, bakeries, tech companies, manufacturers and more.

As the ribbon was cut, Heather Tinellli, Director of Economic & Tourism Development for the County said, “We are thankful for the partnership with Choptank Electric Cooperative and appreciate their investment and commitment to providing fiber broadband to the businesses within the park.”

“We appreciate all the businesses in the park who have already signed up for our fast and reliable internet service maintained by crews in our local community,” said Doug Scott, Chairman of the Choptank Board of Directors. “Park businesses seeking better broadband should visit us at https://www.choptankfiber.com/commercial-internet. I’d also like to thank Isiah's Ice Cream and everyone who stopped by to celebrate!”