Governor DeWine, Lt. Governor Husted Announce New Broadband Expansion Projects

Press Release

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted today announced new broadband expansion projects that will make affordable, high-speed internet available to nearly 100,000 households in Ohio that currently don't have access to reliable internet connectivity.

This morning, 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. The funding will be used to cover the "broadband funding gap" associated with 33 broadband expansion projects impacting 31 counties.

"High-speed internet is no longer a luxury - it's a critical necessity for everything from school to work to healthcare," said Governor DeWine. "We must end the digital divide in our state, and by giving our rural and unserved areas access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet, we will enhance economic growth in these communities and bring about new opportunities for residents."

The 33 awards announced today will directly fund projects to 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 approximately 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. Governor Jon Husted said. "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."

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