Almost $5 Million being allocated to broadband access, fire companies in Worcester

WORCESTER COUNTY, Md.- A big chunk of federal funding will be getting used for broadband and fire departments.

In a Worcester County Commissioners meeting this week, it was voted to use about $5 million dollars from funding through the American Rescue Plan Act.

We’re told through this past year it has really shown that access to broadband is needed, especially in rural areas.

Also, we’re also told that because many of the fire companies rely on fundraisers for money, they also needed help.

“Unfortunately, those fundraisers are unable to meet the obligations, financial obligations of our fire companies and EMT’s and we need to assist them,” Chip Bertino, a Worcester County Commissioner, said.

“You should have access to the same sort of internet that everybody else does and I think that will be an economic development driver moving forward,” Bertino said.

We are told they don’t know how they will split the funds between broadband access and fire departments, but that discussion will happen at a later date.