BroadbandOhio estimates that around 230,000 residents will have improved broadband availability thanks to the 104 new expansion projects.
The Broadband Expansion Authority authorized BroadbandOhio to award more than $232 million in grants to 11 internet service providers as part of the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant Program in March. The funding will be used to cover the “broadband funding gap” associated with 33 broadband expansion projects impacting 31 counties.
These projects will bring affordable, high-speed internet access to more than 43,000 Ohio homes. As part of the grant process, several providers also committed to independently fund 71 other broadband expansion projects serving about 52,000 households and impacting 31 additional counties.
In total, BroadbandOhio estimates that around 230,000 residents will have improved broadband availability thanks to the 104 new expansion projects.
“These awards will help our local private- and public-sector partners expand high-speed, affordable internet in areas of Ohio that are currently unserved or underserved,” Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said in a statement earlier this year. “You can’t be part of the modern economy, education system and health care system without access to broadband – it is a necessity. This effort will help connect hundreds of thousands of Ohioans who have been left behind until now.”
All projects will provide service access of at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to residents in areas that do not have a provider that can supply service at this speed. The average construction time for the new broadband projects is two years, with some areas expected to receive improved internet access in only 12 months.
“These partnerships will greatly expand internet access across the state and enhance the lives of tens of thousands of Ohioans,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “These awards highlight our commitment to ensuring all Ohioans are able to participate in the 21st-century economy.”
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