Choptank Fiber. One Year Later.

Choptank Fiber has been connecting members to high-speed internet since its first customer connection in April of 2021. One year later, Choptank Fiber, a subsidiary of Choptank Electric Cooperative, has made broadband available to over 1,000 members. “We are building fiber service that exceeds expectations,” explains Mike Malandro, President and CEO of Choptank Electric Cooperative.  “We are offering speeds from 100 Mbps to 2.5 Gbps, we have stockpiled supplies, and we are building much faster than we anticipated.”
“When we engineered our system, we wanted to be ready for what members would need in the future, says Malandro. What we’ve discovered is that for some members, the future is now.” Choptank Fiber’s first 2.5 Gbps home service was installed weeks ago. 
Hundreds of additional members are scheduled for broadband installation before the end of 2022, thanks to grant funding provided by the state of Maryland and partnerships with local governments.  
“We are 95% complete for buildout on our 2021 grants, which were supposed to take three years,” says Timothy McGaha, Vice President of Technical Services at Choptank Electric Cooperative. “With these speeds and our construction expertise, our members can do anything they can dream up with their internet – it’s truly a life-changing experience.” 
Louise Montgomery is one of the many members who is genuinely happy with her fast and reliable service, installed in October 2021. Before fiber was available through Choptank, she petitioned local and state lawmakers to support enabling legislation.  Following passage of HB 999 in 2020, Louise helped organize her community to vote “yes” for Broadband through Member-Regulation at the Cooperative’s annual meeting.  Louise urged county officials to partner with Choptank Fiber to expedite construction. 
“From a mental health perspective, high-speed internet gives people time to engage their brains if they are isolated. It allows them time and space to do activities, games, and to socialize.” Montgomery says.
Louise and her husband have been Choptank Electric Cooperative members for over 40 years. Before their service was installed, she encouraged neighbors to sign up for Choptank Fiber’s broadband service. 
“During the pandemic, my husband and I tried to work from home on our sub-par satellite internet service, but it just couldn’t handle everything we needed it to do. I work in healthcare and my husband in security. We needed to have fast, reliable internet,” Montgomery says. “Being a champion for Choptank Fiber in this community was crucial for not only my family, but also for my neighbors.” 
Not only did Choptank Fiber’s internet installation increase property values in her neighborhood, but it also helped her save money on her bills. 
“When you think about paying for Wi-Fi through satellite or a landline phone service because cell service isn’t great here, we have saved a whole lot of money using Choptank Fiber. I have saved by switching to streaming services. For work, if I have to meet a client, I am saving gas money from when I had to travel around looking for Wi-Fi. Now, I can do virtual meetings in the privacy of my home. I even have fitness apps that help keep me active.”  
Access to the internet not only helped the Montgomerys reduce their bills and allowed them to connect with the world, it also has helped Louise kickstart her small business. 
Evergreen Senior Consultants LLC provides education and supportive services to people and families with cognitive impairments like dementia or Parkinson’s, and anyone else who falls within that scope. 
“I visit homes, hospitals, facilities, senior centers, and other long-term care centers for people with these impairments. I educate the staff, families, and much of what I do is coach family members on how to deal with these different sicknesses and develop wellness plans for families. These families need so much support and during COVID, without internet, I couldn’t connect with my clients and their caregivers,” says Montgomery. 
After her internet was installed, Mrs. Montgomery was also able to take continuing education classes online through the local hospital, which provided the privacy and credentials she needed to continue her work. 
“The speeds and reliability of our fiber are unmatched by anyone else here on the Eastern Shore,” observed Malandro. “I’m not surprised that a member like Louise Montgomery was able to bring about economic development right in her own community once internet was available.” 
Members who are not located in a current “in-service” area are encouraged to register, so they can be notified when service becomes available. For more information on Choptank Fiber, visit our website at www.choptankfiber.com .