Frustrated with your Internet service provider? Towson University has an app for that.

The school announced on Friday the creation of the Maryland Broadband Map, which allows users to see what kind of Internet access is available at different locations around the state. Input an address, or click on a spot on the map, and it will spit out the types of access there and the providers that you can pay to get it.

Users can also find out how fast their internet connections actually are with the speed test.

“By engaging the greater community in achieving Maryland’s goal for statewide broadband service availability, the interactive map will help more of the state’s citizens enjoy the enormous advantages of access to information, services, and opportunities for economic growth,” said Dyan Brasington, Towson’s vice president for economic and community outreach.

For instance, dropping The Daily Record’s digits (11 E. Saratoga) into the tool shows five types of connections — DSL, fiber optic, mobile wireless, satellite and “other copper wireline,” which just doesn’t sound as cool as satellite or fiber. There are 16 ISP’s available to serve up web access to that address, from At&T to XO Communications.

Much of downtown has similar options, and many areas around the state have at least a half dozen ISP’s beyond the big guys like Comcast and Verizon. But the farther from I-95 you travel, the slimmer the pickings get. Residents of the town of Accident, Garrett County, for example, have to choose between cable and satellite hook-ups offered by four providers.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

There’s a long way to go before the November election, and even longer before returning lawmakers and their newly elected colleagues head back to Annapolis to get down to business.

There are, however, some certainties that came out of Tuesday night’s primary election. And, of course, there are plenty of questions left unanswered.

Tuesday night’s results set up the expected matchup of old rivals — Gov. Martin O’Malley and former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., with both men seeking four more years in the governor’s mansion. And much of the attention in Baltimore will be on the state’s attorney race, where Gregg Bernstein holds a 1,400-vote lead over longtime incumbent Patricia Bessamy with 3,000 absentee ballots still to be counted.

Read the rest of this entry »

Powered by Bookmarkify™