Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland SB571: Commercial Law - Broadband Access - Low-Income Consumer Programs (Maryland Broadband Opportunity and Fairness Act)
Status: In committee, February 11, 2026
Requiring certain broadband providers in the State to establish a program to provide certain broadband services to eligible low-income consumers on or before December 1, 2026; authorizing the Office of Statewide Broadband in the Department of Housing and Community Development to exempt certain providers from the requirement to establish a program; altering the duties of the Office; and establishing a Broadband Affordability Advisory Board.
What the bill says
A bill ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Commercial Law - Broadband Access - Low-Income Consumer Programs (Maryland Broadband Opportunity and Fairness Act) FOR the purpose of requiring certain broadband providers in the State to establish a program to provide certain broadband services to eligible low-income consumers on or before a certain date; authorizing the Office of Statewide Broadband in the Department of Housing and Community Development to exempt certain providers from the requirement to establish a program; altering the duties of the Office…
From the introduced text, February 4, 2026:
A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Commercial Law - Broadband Access - Low-Income Consumer Programs (Maryland Broadband Opportunity and Fairness Act) FOR the purpose of requiring certain broadband providers in the State to establish a program to provide certain broadband services to eligible low-income consumers on or before a certain date; authorizing the Office of Statewide Broadband in the Department of Housing and Community Development to exempt certain providers from the requirement to establish a program; altering the duties of the Office; establishing a Broadband Affordability Advisory Board; and generally relating to broadband access for low-income consumers. BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Commercial Law Section 13-301(14)(xlvii) Annotated Code of Maryland (2025 Replacement Volume) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Commercial Law Section 13-301(14)(xlviii) Annotated Code of Maryland (2025 Replacement Volume) BY adding to Article - Commercial Law Section 13-301(14)(xlix); and 14-5101 through 14-5106 to be under the new subtitle "Subtitle 51. Maryland Broadband Opportunity and Fairness" Annotated Code of Maryland (2025 Replacement Volume) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from exist in g l aw . *sb0571* SENATE BILL Article - Housing and Community Development Section 6.5-101 Annotated Code of Maryland (2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, …