Mayor Scott, BCIT Award $2 Million Grant to Waves to Expand Internet Access to Low-Income Households

BALTIMORE, MD (Friday, December 13, 2024) - Through the Connect Baltimore Broadband Grant Program, Mayor Brandon M. Scott and the Office of Broadband and Digital Equity-a division of the Baltimore City Office of Information and Technology-have awarded Waves a $2 million grant as part of the Scott Administration's efforts to improve internet access, adoption, and utilization in underserved neighborhoods.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating, "This grant program is more than just wires and signals-it's about unlocking opportunity. By partnering with Waves, we're ensuring residents with the greatest need have a chance to learn, connect, and build a better future for themselves and their families."

The Connect Baltimore Broadband Grant Program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and overseen by the Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs, supports the development of gap and community networks to provide affordable, reliable internet access in neighborhoods most affected by the digital divide. This grant complements funding Waves has received from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's Office of Statewide Broadband, the West Baltimore Renaissance Foundation, and the France-Merrick Foundation.

"With this grant, we're taking a huge step toward digital equity in Baltimore," said Chrissie Powell, Executive Director of Waves. "Reliable internet access is not a luxury-it's essential for education, healthcare, and economic opportunity. Thanks to support from the Connect Baltimore Broadband Grant Program, we can connect thousands of households and empower them with the tools they need to thrive in today's digital world."

Waves, a division of the nonprofit Digital Harbor Foundation, is an internet service provider based in Baltimore. It will use the grant to deploy a state-of-the-art, high-speed fiber-optic network across 12 low-income residential apartment buildings, providing internet access to nearly 3,000 households. Each household will receive a pre-configured router for secure and private networking.

Apartment buildings receiving new fiber-optic network are as follows:

• City Arts 1 Apartments
• City Arts 2 Apartments
• Coleman Manor Apartments
• Ednor Apartments 1
• Ednor Apartments 2
• Foxwell Memorial Apartments
• Govans Manor Apartments
• Lillian Jones Apartments
• Marshall Gardens
• Metro Heights at Mondawmin
• Restoration Gardens
• The Allendale

Waves will also use the grant to maintain continued connectivity for nine additional low-income properties currently serviced by the organization.

• Apartment buildings with maintained connectivity are:
• Ahepa Senior Apartments
• Ashland Commons
• Bernard E. Mason Apartments
• Chase House Apartments
• Hollins House
• Johnston Square Apartments
• Paca House Apartments
• Park Heights Place
• Pratt House Apartments

"We're proud to partner with Waves to expand internet access across Baltimore," said Todd Carter, Chief Information Officer for the City of Baltimore. "By focusing on bridging the internet affordability and connectivity gaps, families will no longer have to make life-altering decisions on whether to pay for basic needs or internet access."

Additionally, the Connect Baltimore Broadband Grant Program is a vital component of the City's Digital Inclusion Strategy and reinforces the mayoral commitment to Equitable Neighborhood Development. By focusing on neighborhoods that have historically faced barriers to internet access, the grant program helps ensure these communities can fully participate in the digital ecosystem. The deployment of fiber-optic infrastructure offers a sustainable, long-term connectivity solution, creating new pathways for education, economic mobility, and healthcare access for low-income households.

For more information about the Connect Baltimore Broadband Grant Program, visit technology.baltimorecity.gov.

About Baltimore City's Digital Inclusion Strategy

Released December 2023, Baltimore City's Digital Inclusion Strategy aims to further develop Baltimore's digital infrastructure and help residents and businesses harness the power of technology for their benefit and the betterment of Baltimore. Read the full strategy.

About the Office of Broadband and Digital Equity

The Office of Broadband and Digital Equity (BDE), a division of the Baltimore City Office of Information and Technology, leads the City's efforts to close the digital divide permanently and serves as Baltimore City government's primary liaison with internal and external stakeholders in digital equity. BDE envisions Baltimore as a city where residents can fully participate in the digital ecosystem and have access to devices, technical assistance, digital education, and affordable and reliable internet in the home. For more information about the city's BDE programs and initiatives, sign up for BDE's bi-monthly update, email [email protected], or call (443) 984-9740.

About the Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provided $641 million to the City of Baltimore in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its negative economic impacts. Mayor Brandon M. Scott established the Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs to transparently and effectively administer this funding on behalf of the City. For additional information, visit arp.baltimoreciyt.gov.

About Waves

A project of the Digital Harbor Foundation, Waves (formerly Project Waves) is dedicated to ensuring every household in Baltimore City has access to home broadband services, regardless of socioeconomic status or ability to pay. Founded in 2019 in direct response to the repeal of Net Neutrality, the Waves team has provisioned free, high-speed home internet service to over 1,000 individuals using a combination of fixed wireless and fiber-to-the-premise technology. As the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the way Americans rely on digital access to participate fully in society, Waves' commitment to serving the most historically marginalized members of our community became a lifeline for families and individuals who depend on internet access but cannot afford traditional means.

In 2020, Waves launched its first wireless internet network, connecting nearly 400 households to free internet service using a point-to-multipoint model. This approach was an effective rapid response during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming a critical resource for community members for whom traditional internet services were unavailable or hard to access. Despite initial successes, challenges related to speed and quality of service using fixed wireless service compelled the Waves team to shift focus towards the growth of fiber-optic deployments from 2021 to 2023. The Waves team continues to research and develop a variety of emerging wireless technologies that promise more reliable service, including a 5G home internet solution through a single wireless home internet router.

While Waves continues to connect affordable housing multi-dwelling-units (MDU's) to high-speed internet via fiber-optic deployment, they look forward to offering a wireless solution as a free or affordable option to community members in single family homes, as well as small businesses, and institutions soon.

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