MANSFIELD — A high-speed journey of nearly 250 miles across Ohio began with a single step more than a year ago in Richland County.
And the notion of a broadband internet across Ohio that roughly follows U.S. 30 across the state just became far more realistic.
The Ohio Department of Development on Wednesday issued a “request for proposals” to build the fiber line north central Ohio officials hope will key economic development across the region through its BroadbandOhio project.
BroadbandOhio’s stated mission is “to bring high-speed internet access to every Ohioan and build a best-in-class broadband network in Ohio.”
A request for proposals (RFP) is government-speak for an advertisement asking companies involved in the high-speed internet construction to apply for the job.
Companies have until Feb. 2 to submit proposals, which will be evaluated and scored by a panel before a contract is awarded.
“I think from a Richland County standpoint, it’s extremely satisfying that we were able to take a lead on what we consider is a very important project for the state of Ohio and what could also lead to the project continuing in other states,” Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero said Thursday morning.
He said states such as Indiana and perhaps even Illinois may look to continue the project.
“To think that Richland County, Ohio, could be a leader on a pretty transformative project that could benefit several states and the entire country is a pretty unique thing, so we’re pretty excited to be leaders in that,” Vero said.
In January 2024, the Richland County Board of Commissioners met with state and local officials to launch formal discussions about the project, a group that included leaders of the new Ohio Air National Guard 179th Cyberspace Wing based at Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport.
But the idea behind the proposal goes even further back.
Vero credited North Central State College President Dr. Dorey Diab for helping to launch the project a year prior.
“He approached me (at a Richland Community Development Group) meeting about a year ago. He said, ‘Hey, commissioner, are you going to earn your paycheck and start expanding broadband in Richland County?’” Vero said at the 2024 meeting.
The comment helped to spur a local group that included Vero, Diab, then-Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development President Jodie Perry and Barrett Thomas, the chamber’s economic development director.
Diab said during the initial meeting that broadband access in today’s world should be considered like any other necessary utility.
“Internet and more specifically, high-speed broadband capacity, is becoming like a utility, like electricity and water,” Diab said.
“Whether it’s for business, whether it is for the population in the county and things like that, you cannot do without it anymore. And as far as the campus is concerned, it’s about teaching, it’s about research, it’s about online delivery.”
Officials pushed for the project, an effort that was rewarded in the two-year state budget July 1 with $20 million in funding.
State Rep. Marilyn John (R-Richland County) attended the commissioners’ meeting July 1 when the funds were announced.
“This was not my idea,” the former Richland County commissioner and Shelby mayor said. “This was born right here in the county amongst all of you and you worked really hard. When you brought me the idea, I thought it was genius.
“It takes a lot of thoughtful preparation and it takes a lot of collaboration. That’s really what Richland County is about and has been about for a long time,” John said.
According to the RFP, its purpose is to “provide BroadbandOhio with an eligible project proposal to expand commercially available middle-mile broadband infrastructure along the entirety of U.S. Route 30 and prioritize the needs of area stakeholders.”
(Below is a PDF with the 27-page request for proposals for the U.S. 30 broadband project.)
The RFP said candidates “must have experience in conducting similar types of broadband infrastructure expansion projects” and must provide references.
It said successful respondents “will submit an eligible project plan to deploy, maintain, and support a long haul middle mile network spanning the length of U.S. Route 30 in the state of Ohio.
The network will include new points of presence for military and higher education stakeholders.
The applicant will complete all necessary low-level engineering, field engineering, permitting, and construction of the fiber backbone, including points of presence and core network equipment.”