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OFBF is hitting the road in hopes of drumming up interest in expanding broadband Internet service to rural Ohio.

Chris Henney, OFBF director of policy development, is teaming up with a representative from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to travel to Ohio communities and encourage participation in a loan program designed to aid the development of broadband service.

Broadband is a high speed Internet connection that is up to 25 to 30 times faster than traditional dial-up. The service is always connected and there is no need for a second phone line.

"Rural broadband is important because it’s such an integral part of business today, and rural areas need to be on a level playing field with urban areas," Henney said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development office offers loans to assist broadband companies in expanding their service; however, interest in the loan program has not been as strong as anticipated. Companies can be reluctant to invest in rural communities due to the expensive infrastructure required for a relatively small number of customers.

"What we're hoping to do is find some communities that need broadband, find providers in those areas or nearby communities and encourage them to apply for the loans through the USDA Rural Development office and then be able to use that money to expand into areas that don't have adequate broadband service," Henney said.

He said Ohio is making progress "slowly but surely" with the expansion of rural broadband.

"We're hoping to make more progress, to speed the process up a little bit by going out to these communities," he said.

Henney has been in contact with Farm Bureau organization directors to identify communities in need of broadband service. Along with the USDA, he has begun narrowing down which communities and broadband companies may be receptive to the loan program.

"What we're doing right now is trying to set up meetings to go out and visit with those companies and encourage them to apply and expand their business," he said.

Henney hopes OFBF's continued push to provide broadband services to rural Ohio will benefit all types of businesses.

"It could be an agricultural business or a non-ag business or it could be a rural industrial park. Those folks need broadband in order to compete with their urban counterparts," he said.

For more information on rural broadband opportunities, contact Henney at 614-246-8265.