One Maryland Inter-County Broadband Network
The One Maryland Inter-County Broadband Network also known as ICBN is Municipal Computer Network.[1]
Overview
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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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ "State tech agency lacked controls over $158M federally funded broadband project, audit finds". 25 August 2014.
- ^ "ICBN Fact Sheet" (PDF). Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ^ Steven Overly (19 June 2011). "Installation begins on broadband network". The Washington Post.
- ^ Larry Carson (13 June 2011). "One Maryland Broadband Network facility opens Central Maryland portion of $158 million federal stimulus project". The Baltimore Sun.
- ^ "Inter-County Broadband Network". Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ^ "Merdon named as new CIO in Howard Co". The Daily Record. 12 September 2013.
- ^ "Howard County Forges Ties to Silicon Valley". Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ "MDBC". Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ "ARCGIS". Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ^ "Ciena Celebrates the Construction of One Maryland Inter-County Broadband Network". Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Columbia Association to join ICBN". The Baltimore Sun. 17 October 2014.
- ^ "Columbia's nTech Solutions links into ICBN". The Baltimore Sun. 15 October 2014.