COLUMBUS — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced Wednesday a state investment of $94.5 million that will provide affordable, high-speed internet access to more than 35,000 households across the state.
As part of the second round of the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant (ORBEG) program, the Broadband Expansion Authority authorized BroadbandOhio to provide funding to two internet service providers, Time Warner Cable Midwest and Brightspeed, for six projects serving 23 counties, including Ashland County and Knox County.
The program is designed to provide internet service with speeds of at least 100/100 Mbps to households upon project completion.
“Having reliable, high-speed internet is an essential part of our world today,” said Gov. DeWine. “Providing Ohio’s unserved areas with dependable, affordable broadband access will enhance economic growth and create new opportunities where they didn’t previously exist.”
Ashland County and Knox County are among a seven-county group that will receive more than $11 million for the program.
Brightspeed
Counties Covered: Allen, Ashtabula, Columbiana, Knox, Mahoning, Shelby, Trumbull.
Award Amount: $11,358,720.
Number of Households: 5,053.
Project Summary: Upon completion of the proposed project build, residents in Allen, Ashtabula, Columbiana, Knox, Mahoning, Shelby, Trumbull counties will have access to fiber-based broadband of up to 1 gigabyte per second symmetrical speeds to every household.
“With this action today, we are expanding the opportunity for many people in these 23 counties to participate in the modern economy, education, and healthcare systems, which currently lack access to high-speed internet,” said Lt. Gov. Husted.
“Having grown up in rural Ohio, I know firsthand how limited technology access can make people feel left behind when it comes to opportunities. We are changing that in Ohio.”