Maryland pairs one of the most competitive fiber markets on the East Coast with stubborn rural gaps. In the Baltimore–Washington corridor, Verizon Fios and Xfinity overlap across most addresses, and T-Mobile 5G Home starts at just $30/mo with no contract. But travel to the Eastern Shore or Western Maryland mountains and fiber thins out, leaving cable, fixed wireless, and Starlink.
Major Providers in Maryland
Xfinity (Comcast) has the widest availability at 88% of the state, with cable up to 2 Gbps from $40/mo. Verizon Fios covers about 80% (concentrated in the I-95 corridor) with symmetrical fiber up to 2.3 Gbps; its 300 Mbps tier runs $34.99/mo when bundled with a mobile plan. T-Mobile 5G Home ($30/mo with Autopay and a voice line) covers 74%. Astound ($30/mo) serves 7%, mostly around Prince George’s County, and Bloosurf brings fiber/fixed wireless to the lower Eastern Shore.
| Provider | Starting Price | Max Speed | MD Footprint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Fios | $34.99/mo (300 Mbps) | 2.3 Gbps | ~80%, I-95 corridor |
| Xfinity | $40/mo (300 Mbps) | 2 Gbps | 88% availability |
| T-Mobile 5G | $30/mo (Autopay + line) | 498 Mbps | 74%, no contract |
| Astound | $30/mo (300 Mbps) | 1.5 Gbps | 7%, PG County |
| Bloosurf | $65/mo | 3 Gbps | Lower Eastern Shore |
City-by-City Price Differences
Baltimore is a Fios-and-Xfinity battleground: Verizon’s fiber reaches deep into city neighborhoods while Xfinity pushes 2 Gbps cable at $40/mo. Montgomery and Prince George’s counties enjoy Fios plus Astound competition. Frederick and the Western Maryland mountains (Allegany, Garrett) have thinner fiber and lean on cable or fixed wireless. The Eastern Shore — Salisbury, Ocean City — is where Bloosurf and slower cable dominate, and Starlink is common.
Pro tip: In the DC suburbs, Verizon’s $34.99/mo Fios 300 tier requires a qualifying mobile plan. If you’re not a Verizon wireless customer, the effective price is higher — compare against Xfinity’s straight $40/mo before committing.
State Regulation and Consumer Protections
Maryland’s carrier oversight sits with the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC). Broadband expansion is led by the Office of Statewide Broadband within the Department of Housing and Community Development under the Connect Maryland initiative. Maryland’s BEAD allocation is $267.7 million (a final $79.1M after restructuring); the state reports 99.5% of locations already connected or funded, with the last ~9,000 unserved locations across 18 counties now fully awarded.
Hidden Fees in Maryland
Xfinity cable carries equipment rental ($10–15/mo), broadcast TV fees if bundled, and a 1.2 TB data cap (overage or $30/mo unlimited). Verizon Fios has no data caps and no equipment fees on most tiers — a major reason it wins on true monthly cost despite a higher sticker. T-Mobile 5G includes equipment and taxes in its $30–50/mo price.
Low-Income Internet Programs in Maryland
- Xfinity Internet Essentials — $9.95/mo for qualifying seniors and SSI recipients
- Verizon Forward — discounted Fios for eligible customers
- Federal Lifeline — up to $9.25/mo discount (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI)
- Maryland Aging & Adult Services — digital-skills training via senior centers