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Baltimore County Creates Wi-Fi Hotspots For Disconnected Residents

Baltimore County

Baltimore County is creating outdoor Wi-Fi hotspots at 10 county libraries.

It’s the county’s latest response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Internet access has long been an issue in the county. There are parts of the rural north county, where Wi-Fi isn’t available. Other residents can’t afford it. But now the usual places where you can get free Wi-Fi, like libraries, are closed. That’s leaving a lot of people disconnected when they need it most for things like distance learning, job training and filing for unemployment.

There are some requirements for these outdoor Wi-Fi hotspots. You have to stay in your car or make sure you are at least six feet away from anyone else when hopping on the Wi-Fi. County officials promise they will enforce that.

Baltimore County Public Library Director Paula Miller said pre-pandemic a lot of people connected to the internet at the library so the need is there.

The following libraries have the outdoor Wi-Fi:

  • Catonsville Branch, 1100 Frederick Road, Catonsville, MD 21228
  • Essex Branch, 1110 Eastern Boulevard, Essex, MD 21221
  • Hereford Branch, 16940 York Road, Hereford, MD 21111
  • Lansdowne Branch, 500 Third Avenue, Lansdowne, MD 21227
  • North Point Branch, 1716 Merritt Boulevard, Dundalk, MD 21222
  • Randallstown Branch, 8604 Liberty Road, Randallstown, MD 21133
  • Rosedale Branch, 6105 Kenwood Avenue, Rosedale, MD 21237
  • Towson Branch, 320 York Road, Towson, MD 21204
  • White Marsh Branch, 8133 Sandpiper Circle, Baltimore, MD 21236
  • Woodlawn Branch, 1811 Woodlawn Drive, Woodlawn, MD 21207

John Lee is a reporter for WYPR covering Baltimore County. @JohnWesleyLee2
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