WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $238,825 to help provide Maryland schools with the tools and services they need to enhance internet connectivity in their communities. These funds were provided by the Federal Communications Commission through the Emergency Connectivity Fund – a fund that the lawmakers helped establish in the American Rescue Plan to address the digital divide. Maryland has received over $68.5 million since the fund’s creation. This funding has supported over 70 schools and libraries across Maryland and expanded broadband internet access for thousands of students, school staff, and library patrons. 

“Too many students in Maryland and across our country still lack reliable internet access and face significant barriers when completing their school work,” said the lawmakers. “The negative consequences of these connectivity issues have been exacerbated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We fought to secure this funding through the American Rescue Plan to help close the homework gap and provide additional support directly to our schools and libraries so that more students have the devices they need to get online. We will continue working to make sure that every student — no matter their zip code — has access to reliable and affordable internet.”

Awards in this wave of funding include:

• $132,000 to Cecil County Public Schools
• $77,425 to Yeshivas Toras Simcha, Inc in Pikesville
• $29,400 to Kennedy Krieger School in Baltimore

The American Rescue Plan included historic investments in Maryland for broadband infrastructure, education and child care, health care, small businesses, public transit, and more – bringing significant resources directly to Maryland to help workers, families, and local officials combat COVID-19 and recover from the health and economic impacts of the virus.   

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