Baltimore City Council Held a Hearing Wed. April 28
To Get FiOS, Close 'Digital Divide' for Baltimore
Urge the Mayor and Council 'Support the FiOS Resolution!'
- Mayor@BaltimoreCity.gov or 410-396-3835
- City Council: 410-396-4804 or www.BaltimoreCityCouncil.com
- Click here to join our campaign or fax/mail this printable form
- Download the DVD of the April 28 City Council Hearing (2.1 GB)
WMAR-ABC2 TV's report interviews Matthew Weinstein, PM's Baltimore
Regional Director. See Flier, news release and Sun article. Join now.
Verizon is wiring every major jurisdiction in Maryland for fiber optic technology except one: Baltimore City. If you agree that such disparate treatment threatens to create an unacceptable digital divide, click here to join our campaign or fax/mail this printable form.*
The Baltimore Sun ran this photo both in its print edition and on its website homepage, showing PM's Baltimore Regional Director Matthew Weinstein speaking March 16 outside Verizon's Baltimore headquarters at an event to launch the "Where Is Bmore FiOS?" bus billboard campaign demanding Verizon treat Baltimore equally. Also speaking at the event were IMA President Rev. Johnny N. Golden, Sr., CWA leader Ron McGuire, and Darley Park Community Association President Aaron Wilkes. (See video below or YouTube.) (Sun photo credit: Algerina Perna)
Media coverage:
- Baltimore City Playing Catch-up on Internet Speed; Balt. Sun Mar 28
- Baltimore Sun article and Jay Hancock's blog (plus photo above)
- WBAL radio (or PDF)
- Baltimore Brew
- Baltimore Messenger
Coalition Members to date:
- Progressive Maryland
- NAACP Baltimore Branch
- CASA de Maryland
- AFL-CIO Metro Baltimore Council
- Communications Workers of America
- Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance
- Community Law Center
- Abell Improvement Association
- Afterfive Consulting
- Bmore Enterprises
- Capitol Mac
- Charles Village Civic Association
- Darley Park Community Association
- Enon Baptist Church
- Frankford Improvement Association
- Friendship Baptist Church
- Global Mart Affordable Housing, Inc.
- Greater Fawcett Community Association
- Matthew Henson Neighborhood Association
- Mayfield Improvement Association
- Morgan Park Improvement Association
- Mt. Winans Neighborhood Improvement Association
- New Northwood Community Association
- New Unity Church Ministries
- Reservoir Hill Improvement Council
- Sandtown Winchester Condo Association
- Save Another Youth, Inc.
- Trinity Baptist Church
- Upton Planning Committee
- York Road Partnership
Join the "Where Is Bmore FiOS?" Campaign Now
FiOS Facts for Baltimore
Background Basics
Fiber Optics is the latest generation of high-speed data transmission technology,
offering speeds five times faster than DSL and cable. Verizon is the only company
offering this new technology in Maryland under the brand name FiOS. Installing FiOS
involves a significant investment of resources to set up the fiber optic communication
system in a given geographic area.
The Digital Divide in Maryland
In the state of Maryland, Verizon currently offers FiOS service in Anne Arundel,
Baltimore, Charles, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. Thus,
the only major jurisdiction in the state that is not yet wired for FiOS is Baltimore City.
Verizon recently told members of the City Council that they have no plans to apply for a
franchise agreement with the Baltimore City Office of Cable and Communications.
The DC Experience
Verizon also delayed wiring the District of Columbia for FiOS. What changed their
mind? A grassroots campaign uniting dozens of partners – religious, labor, business, civil rights, and neighborhood activists determined to not let their communities fall victim to the digital divide.
What Requirements Must Be Included in the Franchise Agreement?
- Equal treatment of all neighborhoods – everyone gets wired or nobody gets wired
- Stop neglecting maintenance of the existing copper wire system -- we should not have to give up decent phone service to get FiOS
- Local hiring
- Minority hiring
- Living wages
- Health insurance
- Job training
- Labor standards enforced both for Verizon and all its contractors and subcontractors
Help Governor O'Malley make Maryland the
best Internet-connected state in the nation
Join the "Where Is Bmore FiOS?" Campaign Now!
For more information contact, or Fax/mail this printable form to:
*Matthew Weinstein
Baltimore Region Director
Progressive Maryland
9 W. Mulberry St., Baltimore, MD 21201
410-685-7004 x19 410-659-5008 fax
Matthew(AT)ProgressiveMaryland.org
www.WhereIsBmoreFiOS.org
