While more companies invest in wireless broadband technology, many are still heavily involved in wire-line networks.

Verizon recently completed an upgrade to its wired high-speed Internet service, as some 50,000 more households in Havre de Grace, Perry Hall, Poolesville, Randallstown, Essex and other communities now have access to that, bringing the state total to about 437,000 homes. The service delivers downloads at speeds of up to 7.1 megabits per second.

That upgrade is for residential areas, which can include home-based businesses. Verizon has been serving conventional businesses in Maryland with the faster Internet service for about a decade, said George W. Riggins, Verizon's director of national broadband engineering.

"Because businesses need the higher speed, we see a higher percentage of businesses turning to the 7-meg program," he said. "One thing driving the need for more speed among residential customers is online gaming among kids. Many houses now have multiple PCs, as well."

There has also been an increase in the legal downloads of video media content, including movies and on-demand television shows, Riggins said. Many home-based business owners and telecommuters need to download video conferences or send e-mail with large attachments, he added.

Verizon, now with some 200 transmission facilities throughout the state, isn't alone in making wire-line network upgrades in Maryland. Cable company Comcast this year launched a service with a much faster download speed.