One Maryland Inter-County Broadband Network

The One Maryland Inter-County Broadband Network also known as ICBN is Municipal Computer Network.[1]

Overview

Fibre Optic Spools

The ICBN was funded through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.[2] Howard County Maryland Chief Information Officer Ira Levy spearheaded the first and second application for federal funds. As a result, Howard county became the central managing agency for the project, which included Baltimore City, Annapolis, Harford, Carroll, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Frederick, Montgomery, Howard and Prince George’s counties. $115 million was funded as a stimulus grant, with jurisdictions required to fund $43 in matching funds.[3]

Implementation

The project scope was defined to 713 schools using 1,300 miles of underground fiber optic cable installations. In 2011 a new facility was opened for operations in Elkridge, Maryland managed by IPX International of Rockville. AboveNet, T.W. Telecom, and Freedom Wireless signed contracts to link commercial properties to the network.[4] The ICBN was developed using Maryland-based Ciena’s converged packet optical portfolio and packet networking solutions. KCI Technologies, Inc provided the design and outside plant implementation.[5] In September 2013, Levy transitioned to Columbia-based Far Corner subsidiary Torrential Systems. County Executive Ken Ulman replaced him with his former republican opponent Christopher Merdon.[6][7]

The Maryland Broadband Cooperative non-profit corporation was formed to manage networks outside of the jurisdictions.[8]

In 2013, Frederick County withdrew from the program.[9]

On 10 October 2013, Howard County executive Ken Ulman announced the completion of the $160 million fiber optic network to connect 1000 schools.[10]

In August 2014 Ken Ulman announced that the ICBN was the lowest bidder to provide service to the Howard County Public School System, with a cost reduction of $560,000 a year over a five-year contract. The network increased capacity from 100mps to 1gbs for 33 out of 41 elementary schools, 8 facilities, and one out of 20 middle schools.[11]

The Columbia Association HOA for the Howard Hughes development committed to the project for an undisclosed amount to its members.[12] Columbia based nTech Solutions joined, in October 2014, becoming the first company to link to the network.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "State tech agency lacked controls over $158M federally funded broadband project, audit finds". 25 August 2014.
  2. ↑ "ICBN Fact Sheet" (PDF). Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  3. ↑ Steven Overly (19 June 2011). "Installation begins on broadband network.". The Washington Post.
  4. ↑ Larry Carson (13 June 2011). "One Maryland Broadband Network facility opens Central Maryland portion of $158 million federal stimulus project". The Baltimore Sun.
  5. ↑ "Inter-County Broadband Network". Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "Merdon named as new CIO in Howard Co.". The Daily Record. 12 September 2013.
  7. ↑ "Howard County Forges Ties to Silicon Valley". Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "MDBC". Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "ARCGIS". Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  10. ↑ "Ciena Celebrates the Construction of One Maryland Inter-County Broadband Network". Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "Inter-County Broadband Network Producing Savings for Howard County Public School System Huge increase in data capacity supports modern learning environment". Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "Columbia Association to join ICBN". The Baltimore Sun. 17 October 2014.
  13. ↑ "Columbia's nTech Solutions links into ICBN". The Baltimore Sun. 15 October 2014.

External links

See also

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