Choptank Electric Welcomed Rural Fiber Expo to Maryland
The annual Rural Fiber Expo, put on by the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Broadband Cooperatives (VMDABC), came to Annapolis this year. Choptank was honored to host the event for the first time in Maryland.
“We welcome you to the home of the Chesapeake Bay, the blue crab, the national anthem and the one-time Capital of the United States,” said Mike Malandro, Choptank President & CEO, in his opening remarks. “We are proud that Choptank Fiber is among the many remarkable successes in Maryland with almost 5,000 subscribers since our start in 2021.”
The Rural Fiber Expo is an opportunity for the 150+ participants to discuss the challenges they face and the innovative solutions deployed for rural broadband. Industry experts from across the mid-Atlantic discussed strategies and best practices for the year ahead.
VMDABC Board Chair Casey Logan said, “This annual meeting is not just a formality; it is a celebration of our collective achievements, a testament to our resilience, and a beacon of our future aspirations.
“As we celebrate our achievements, we must also look to the future with optimism and determination. The landscape of our industry is ever-changing, and we must remain agile and innovative to stay ahead. Our focus for the coming year will be on protecting our Cooperatives from harmful legislation and advocating for our membership, ensuring that government remembers and understands the cost to deploy broadband is not uniform throughout our geographical regions.”
Choptank experts were featured in several breakout panels. Sarah Dahl, General Counsel and VP of Member Services, discussed broadband affordability for members and the impact of the government withdraw from the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and the Maryland Emergency Broadband Benefit (MEBB). Tim McGaha, VP of Technical Services, provided insight into best practices and common obstacles during the Operations Roundtable. And Katie Luckett, Choptank’s Marketing, Communications & Education Manager, talked about outreach efforts and value-added features offered by Choptank Fiber.