Carroll County Receives 2026 Smart 20 Award for Public Network Project
Westminster, MD, Thursday, March 12, 2026 – Carroll County Economic Development is proud to announce that the Carroll County Public Network (CCPN) project received a 2026 Smart 20 Award from Smart Cities Connect, presented by TechConnect. The Smart 20 Awards annually recognize global smart cities projects, honoring the most innovative and influential work.
Denise Beaver, Director of Economic Development, and Jay Uebel, Carroll County’s Broadband Manager, traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina, this week to receive the award on the county’s behalf during the Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo. Today, during the Carroll County Board of Commissioners’ Open Session, a crystal award was presented to the commissioners and four other initiating partners. Representatives from Carroll County Public Schools, Carroll County Public Library, Carroll Community College, and Skyline Technology Solutions joined Carroll County Economic Development for the presentation.
The project - Carroll County’s Public Network initiative - is a visionary effort to build a robust fiber-optic backbone—the foundation for high-capacity, reliable broadband. Launched in 2007 and continuing to expand today, this middle-mile fiber network project reflects Carroll County’s commitment and vision to expand broadband access through strategic partnerships with government, K–16 education, and community anchor institutions. The network connects over 130 local and state agencies throughout the county with over 110 miles of fiber optic lines and enables private carriers to deliver last-mile service to underserved and unserved businesses and residents, fostering digital equity across the county.
The initial phase middle-mile broadband backbone was completed during a period when few jurisdictions were building fiber infrastructure. This forward-thinking investment created robust broadband access—capacity that did not previously exist. Extra fiber was intentionally added to enable leasing to private providers, and an Enterprise Fund was established to manage maintenance costs and revenue streams. This foundation spurred additional municipal fiber networks and, unexpectedly, positioned the community, including school systems and colleges, to weather the 2020 pandemic with resilience. The improvement in quality of life from expanded high-speed internet access is immeasurable.
“This CCPN project required vision and financial commitment from county partners and commissioners dating back to 2007, and I am proud to have participated in such a groundbreaking initiative,” Beaver noted. “This high-speed fiber network provides long-range opportunities for economic development success. It has become a catalyst for growth-attracting investment, supporting local businesses, and positioning our community to compete in a global economy. Reliable high-speed connectively fuels workforce development, remote work, and business retention – making fiber one of the smartest investments a community can make.”
Gary Davis, CIO of Carroll County Public Schools revealed, “In 2003 when I began the journey of upgrading the network infrastructure for our school system, I quickly found willing partners at the County Government, Community College, and Public Library to expand the vision to include not only a county-wide network for public entities but to overbuild and enable Carroll Broadband for use by local providers to deliver services for commercial and residential customers. The CCPN and Carroll Broadband are a true success story of teamwork, collaboration, resource sharing, and vision. The ROI was quickly realized as we continue to save significant amounts of taxpayer dollars and provide enhanced services to our citizens.”
“This infrastructure is the backbone of Carroll Community College’s 21st‑century learning environment, delivering resilient, high‑speed connectivity that reduces costs while expanding secure digital learning, collaboration, and support for students, faculty, and staff,” said Carroll Community College Vice President of Administrative Services Patti Davis. “By connecting the college with county and state agencies and community partners, the network strengthens public services, advances economic opportunity, and ensures students and community members have the digital access essential for their education, careers, and long‑term success.”
"By building on the existing partnerships between Carroll County Government, Carroll Community College, Carroll County Public Schools, and Carroll County Public Library, we created a shared network that has delivered greater efficiency, significant cost savings, and enhanced services for all partners,” noted Bob Kuntz, Director of Operations & Innovation at Carroll County Public Library. “This collaborative approach has strengthened the library’s public services, expanded educational and economic opportunities, and provided a digital infrastructure that will benefit the community for many years."
Brian Holsonbake, Chairman of Skyline Technology Solutions, which was the technology contractor for the majority of the initial development, added, “What makes Carroll Broadband (CCPN) truly exceptional is the leadership and collaboration behind it. Carroll County had the vision to build infrastructure that will serve the community for generations, and it has been a privilege to be part of that effort. This network now stands as a model for how local governments can take ownership of their digital future and deliver real, measurable benefits to their citizens.”