Strategic Information Technology Partnerships 
& Inter-organizational Cooperation

Allegany County Digital Opportunity

Building a community-wide infrastructure in partnership with government & industry to bridge the digital divide in Allegany County.

Allegany County Government is a partner and founding member of the ALLCONET Internet Partnership, which consists of the Allegany County Government, Allegany County Board of Education, Allegany County Library System, and the City of Cumberland. Our philosophy is "Doing More Together!" This cooperative partnership plans, manages, and provides Email, Internet, Intranet, and Web Hosting services for the partners as well as HRDC, AHEC, Canal Place, Tourism, Department of Juvenile Justice, RESA, Tri-County Council, and the Cumberland City Police.

ALLCONET2

The partnership planned and implemented a carrier class wireless network that has allowed for improved inter-organizational communication, saves over 100, 000 in telecommunications costs per month and provided businesses access to services previously out of reach.

Project Long Arm

Project Long Arm enhances telecommunications access to Western Maryland.  This phase extends the wireless network 62 miles into neighbouring Washington County, Maryland to allow the network to increase available bandwidth.  The general infrastructure to extend the ALLCONET wireless network to Washington County consists of installing and configuring wireless antennae and transmitters on existing towers between Cumberland and Hagerstown.  Project partners include The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, Maryland State Police, and Cellular One.  In addition, the high level of cooperation and professionalism amongst partners and affiliated agencies has brought us recognition as a model county program by the State Board of Education and similar recognition by SAILOR.

The Information Technology Division works cooperatively with the Board of Education through the Data Processing Executive Committee. The committee oversees the shared operation of an AS400 which is used for Tax & Utility billing, financials, and payroll.

The Information Technology Division is a voting representative in both organizations each is involved in planning the information technology needs of Allegany County and works to prevent unnecessary duplicate services.