Wicomico backs Talkie Communications as rural broadband provider

By Greg Bassett
Posted 1/19/22

Wicomico County’s broadband-deprived homes might soon have a new Internet company to provide service.

Acting County Executive John Psota has signed a letter of support backing Talkie …

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Wicomico backs Talkie Communications as rural broadband provider

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Wicomico County’s broadband-deprived homes might soon have a new Internet company to provide service.

Acting County Executive John Psota has signed a letter of support backing Talkie Communications of Chestertown as the Wicomico government’s choice to connect rural neighborhoods and communities.

The Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband will ultimately decide whether Talkie is the vendor worthy of receiving state grant money to fund the utility work. Seven separate Internet Service Providers applied to Wicomico’s “request for proposals” late last year, with Talkie becoming Psota’s ultimate choice.

The executive’s support would seemingly give Talkie a leg up in the competition to win broadband business.

Wicomico has listed 10 distinct areas county-wide where broadband Internet service is lacking. In all, about 2,200 homes lack connectivity.

High-speed Internet access has become more of an issue over the last two years, as more people have had to work from home through the Covid-19 pandemic. The problematic situation became even more evident when students in rural areas had difficulty taking classes online, and school board officials had to scramble to offer cellular technology options.

The so-called “modified hot spots” didn’t always work, however. Officials also found that a significant percentage of homes that had broadband access weren’t hooked up, because families couldn’t afford the service.

Choptank Electric Co-op, which already provides electric service to rural areas, has also sought to bring broadband to underserved areas through its new splinter company, Choptank Fiber.

Choptank had asked Wicomico County to be a financial partner in its wiring effort, putting up a matching amount of $758,000 that would be included in its Office of State Broadband application.

As the broadband issue has heated up in the past year, Psota has insisted all along that Wicomico could secure a reliable Internet Service Provider without helping to front any cash.

By choosing to back Talkie’s application, Psota has stuck to that notion.

“No county taxpayer funds involved,” Psota said in an interview with Salisbury Independent. “Proposed wiring of all of the priority areas was identified by the state; rural broadband areas are identified through the Census. We’re trying to reach the most un-served areas as possible.”

Psota worked with county Department of Information Technology Director John Monar to determine Talkie’s credentials and prospects as a vendor. The company has performed extensive work in the Upper Shore counties and was recently selected for rural broadband work in neighboring Worcester County.

“The clear result was that Talkie is the ISP that can deliver the most bang for the buck,” Psota. “We’re trying to do the best that we can and be the most efficient possible. This is a complex, comprehensive issue.”

Under Covid-19 relief legislation and its recent infrastructure measures, the federal government is giving millions of dollars to Maryland for broadband expansion and upgrades. The state will take about $75 million of that money and dispense it to the counties under an application system.

Other Internet providers are believed to have also applied by the Jan. 14 deadline.

“Anybody can apply,” said Psota. “Having that letter of support is a qualifier. Also, people in the area have to want it.”

Wicomico has a unique problem in that it has small, isolated areas that are un-served, rather than broad expanses. Officials have identified 10 specific patches where wiring needs to happen.

“One of the big problems is Wicomico County does not have large, unserved areas,” said Office of Statewide Broadband Director Kenrick Gordon. “There are a lot of small areas that are really hard to build a network to.”

Talkie’s rates would range from $60 to over $100 a month depending on the level of service. For residents who qualify because of income, the state does have an available program to subsidize service.

Psota met with the County Council on Tuesday and informed the seven members that he was formally backing Talkie Communications’ bid. Because of the county procurement guidelines, the council was unable to formally dispute the decision.

The county is neither expending money nor entering into a contract, so the council was essentially bypassed.

Council members, who had met previously with Choptank representatives, as well Gordon – the state broadband director – didn’t dispute Psota and Monar’s action.

Bill Duck, a Wicomico County public schools teacher who recently appeared before the County Council to voice frustration over broadband access, said Tuesday he is happy that progress may be finally occurring.

"I'm glad the Acting County Executive is finally helping rural Wicomico residents by applying for state broadband grants paid for by our state taxes," Duck said. "Comcast has forsaken the rural taxpayers of this country for decades -- let's give Talkie a chance to belatedly bring us into the 21st century."

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