The Montgomery Connects CIP provides for capital funding to support Montgomery County's broadband connectivity initiatives. Internet service accessibility, affordability, and adoption are critical factors in driving economic development and full participation in the digital economy throughout the County. Funding will support planning, design, and construction of: MoCoNet residential broadband in affordable housing developments; Public Wi-Fi and Advanced Wireless Conduit Networks in commercial and community gathering areas of Montgomery County; Innovation Testbeds for expansion of traffic, transit, and pedestrian sensors, AI applications, Internet of Things (IoT), and cybersecurity innovation in Montgomery County; and the White Oak Science Gateway Conduit Network to provide broadband conduit infrastructure in Viva White Oak and other White Oak commercial development projects.

MoCoNet installations began in FY21 and will continue through FY30. In FY24, MoCoNet expanded to six affordable housing locations and will expand to a seventh location, the redeveloped Department of Recreation headquarters, Allium Place, in FY25. Grant funding was obtained in FY25 to expand to seven additional locations and additional grant applications were submitted to expand to four additional locations. MoCoNet work in FY25-26 is focused on construction at the seven grant-funded locations and an eighth County-funded location in design and engineering for construction in FY26-27. The East County Fiber Highway Phase 2 connections to the Inter-County Broadband Network in Howard County and Prince George's County will be completed in FY25. White Oak Science Gateway conduit construction will be performed concurrently with Viva White Oak construction but is delayed due to slow development of the Viva White Oak development. Outreach with private partners for public Wi-Fi, advanced wireless, conduit, and testbeds in commercial and community gathering areas is ongoing.

Montgomery Connects is a broadband economic development program designed to ensure that businesses and residents have as much reliable, secure, and robust broadband service as they need to live, work, learn, and keep our economy moving at the speed of our ideas. Montgomery Connects works to bring broadband service, devices, and skills training to support County investments in affordable housing; expands access to competitive broadband services in commercial buildings to support small and large businesses; and leverages infrastructure development and strategic conduit network deployment to create robust public Wi-Fi, public-private partnerships, and leasing of County broadband assets. Access to reliable broadband infrastructure throughout the County supports business growth and innovation in biotech bio-health, cybersecurity, IT services, financial services, media and similar high-bandwidth-consuming sectors, and the growth of federal and state government, research, and higher education institutions.

In response to COVID-19, federal and state grant programs are providing additional funding for broadband in underserved areas and locations. The Montgomery Connects CIP provides engineering, planning, and design work to support state and federal broadband grant applications.

In FY25, a correction was made to reflect the intergovernmental funding is actually Federal Aid passed through the State and funding was accelerated to FY25. FY25 supplemental appropriation in Federal Aid for the amount of $4,629,208 and a FY25 special appropriation in Federal Aid for the amount of $961,000.