SMECO, broadband co-op join forces on fiber

Agreement paves way to better So. Md. capacity

Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008

Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photo Tom Tudor, left, and Austin J. Slater Jr. of Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative and Patrick Mitchell of Maryland Broadband Cooperative celebrate the beginning of their collaboration E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

The agreement provides for the broadband cooperative to lease specific available spare fiber-optic strands from the SMECO network at mutually agreeable locations. SMECO will also be a class E member of the broadband cooperative, which is reserved for business partners contributing assets through a lease or shared resources, according to a SMECO press release.

MDBC plans to develop broadband infrastructure throughout the tri-county area and southern Prince George’s County, which includes SMECO’s service area.

MDBC’s executive director and chief operating officer, Patrick Mitchell, said in the release, ‘‘This is a major step to facilitating a fiber ring infrastructure in Southern Maryland, and SMECO has been a supporter in the region from the beginning.”

SMECO President and CEO Austin J. Slater Jr. said, ‘‘We wanted to be part of the solution because our electric customers have made it clear that they want high-speed Internet service wherever they live in Southern Maryland.”

Tom Tudor, SMECO’s contract administrator has been involved in the broadband infrastructure issue since 1998. Restricted by state law to providing electric service, SMECO monitored, investigated and conducted a pilot project with broadband over power line technology but was not convinced of its performance.

SMECO has supported various efforts, such as the Rural Maryland Broadband Task Force, Southern Maryland Broadband Initiative and with Tudor serving on MDBC’s advisory council. Tudor’s role will change as he serves as SMECO’s representative to the broadband cooperative.

Wayne Clark, a member of the Maryland Broadband Cooperative’s board, representing the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, said in the release, ‘‘A 10-year effort from concept to current installation of fiber is the result of many institutions and individuals who have freely shared of their talents and vision. We thank SMECO’s leadership and staff for helping to advance our mission of making broadband available to all.”

‘‘SMECO has been a vital partner in the creation of the Maryland Broadband Cooperative. The broadband cooperative’s efforts in Southern Maryland and the Western Shore will be considerably enhanced by both SMECO’s membership and its participation in the process,” said Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) in the release.

‘‘Broadband access will expand opportunity to areas of Maryland that will now have greater access to this creative new technology. This initiative will help improve the lives of all Marylanders and give our rural businesses the tools they need to compete in a global marketplace.”

‘‘This partnership continues Team Maryland’s commitment to connect Patuxent River Naval Air Station to the NASA facility at Wallops on the Eastern Shore.

Bringing the information superhighway to Southern Maryland means economic development, job growth and innovation whether you are a small business, a school, or a major employer,” said Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) in the release.

‘‘Forty years ago, interstate highways were crucial for economic growth in our rural areas, now it’s the information superhighway. That’s why I have worked so hard to provide a federal investment to help build a broadband superhighway. I will keep fighting for the resources to keep Maryland competitive.”