Ohio is making a nearly $95 million leap to bring high-speed internet to digitally dark communities. Governor Mike DeWine, along with Lt. Governor Jon Husted and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik, announced that this hefty investment aims to connect more than 35,000 households to the internet superhighway, targeting 23 counties hit hard by the lack of broadband access. According to the official announcement, the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant (ORBEG) program is behind this ambitious initiative.
Two internet providers, Time Warner Cable Midwest and Brightspeed, will receive the funds to support six projects under ORBEG. The money isn't just to lay down cables but to quickly provide service with internet speeds that don't just crawl but sprint at 100/100 Mbps upon completion, a necessary upgrade from the sluggish pace many rural residents have contended. "Having reliable, high-speed internet is an essential part of our world today," Governor DeWine asserted. "Providing Ohio's unserved areas with dependable, affordable broadband access will enhance economic growth and create new opportunities where they didn't previously exist."
Ohio's leaders are aware of the gravity of the digital divide. Lt. Governor Husted, who grew up in rural Ohio, shared a personal perspective on the tech gap, "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," he said through the website. This program is about getting communities online and fundamentally changing the socioeconomic landscape by keeping pace with the burgeoning digital economy.
The ORBEG's second round is a clear message: Ohio isn't just investing in infrastructure. It's investing in its people. To offer them a lifeline in the digital world and radically open up doors that seemed steadfastly shut due to connectivity issues. "Having grown up in rural Ohio, I know firsthand how limited technology access can make people feel left behind regarding opportunities. We are changing that in Ohio," Husted emphasized, signaling a firm commitment from the state to bridge the digital divide once and for all, as stated on their website.
