In Baltimore, thousands of families still struggle with unreliable or no internet access, limiting their ability to work, learn, and access healthcare. According to Maryland’s Statewide Broadband Access and Equity phone survey, 38% of low-income Baltimore households either lack a computer or rely on a smartphone to get online.
Greenlight Networks, a fiber internet provider dedicated to expanding affordable, high-speed access, is investing $100 million to bring reliable fiber connectivity to historically marginalized communities across the city. Fiber is a broadband technology that transmits data at about 70% of the speed of light — making it ideal for supporting daily internet use for households and local businesses alike.
Digital access gaps remain stark in Baltimore City’s low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. The Abell Foundations’ May 2020 report found that 73.3% of white households have wired broadband internet, compared to just 50.2% of African American households and 46.4% of Hispanic households.
Makaila Hyman, a Johns Hopkins University student from East Baltimore, experienced firsthand how unreliable internet access can disrupt education.
“During an online exam this past semester, my WiFi crashed mid-test, and I had to switch to my phone to finish. It was stressful trying to focus while dealing with connection issues, and I worried it would affect my performance,” she said.
Since its founding in 2011, Greenlight Networks has provided internet access to more than 225,000 homes and nearly 10,000 small businesses across 35 cities in upstate New York. Now, the company is expanding to Baltimore, where competition is limited and the opportunity to close the digital divide is great, Michele Sadwick, Greenlight Networks’ chief revenue officer, said.
Phase 1 of their plan includes neighborhoods such as Mount Washington, Roland Park, Belair-Edison, Frankford, Hamilton Hills, Arcadia, and Hampden, among others. The company also plans to open a permanent office in the city staffed by local residents.
“There’s a clear demand in Baltimore for better internet, and Greenlight is excited to deliver a choice for broadband internet that this community has long awaited and rightfully deserves,” said CEO Mark Murphy in a press release.
By September 2025, Greenlight Networks anticipates connecting thousands of Baltimore homes. The company is conducting outreach throughout the city to connect with local leaders in the areas where they plan to expand.
“We are also working with the City of Baltimore’s Digital Equity office to look for broader opportunities where we can partner to try to make an impact on life in the community,” Sadwick said.
Lo Smith, executive director of Baltimore’s Digital Equity Coalition, said despite this investment, there are still challenges at the federal level with expanding internet access. The Digital Equity Act, a $2.75 billion grant program aimed at boosting digital literacy and access for communities like Baltimore, was canceled in May 2025 under the Trump administration. Paired with the loss of the Affordable Connectivity Program, many Baltimoreans continue to face declining internet access.
“With more options for Baltimoreans, hopefully, folks can find the internet service provider, program, plan, or resource that works for them,” Smith said.