Legislature restores broadband funding, removes municipal network ban
Broadband expansion is back on the agenda for the state of Ohio. The state budget conference committee restored the Governor's $190 million broadband funding proposal and removed a controversial amendment that would have prevented local governments from offering broadband services…
Broadband expansion: Ohio Senate cuts funds, limits municipal networks
With the state budget now in conference committee, the Ohio Senate is trying to eliminate the Governor's $190 million broadband expansion package from the bill. Senate president Matt Huffman also has slipped in an amendment that would make it illegal…
Accountability is key to successful rural broadband expansion
Over the last 30 years, the FCC has spent $100 billion to improve rural telecommunications, yet much of Appalachia remains without high speed internet, cell signal, or even reliable landline telephone service. How did this happen, and where did all…
2021 State of the Region Rural Broadband Presentation
At the 2021 Appalachian Ohio State of the Region Conference, Tom Reid outlined the steps needed to bring broadband to all households in the region. With the prospect of significant government funding on the horizon, it is essential to advocate…
Rural Broadband: We must plan for the next 30 years
As the Biden administration gears up to invest billions in rural broadband access, industry insiders like the National Cable TV Association and AT&T have expressed concerns about the high cost of fiber optic technology. While they acknowledge that fiber is…
The True Cost of Rural Broadband
FCC internet subsidy will cover just 20% of cost in rural Ohio. Will it be enough? The Year of the Zoom Meeting has made one thing abundantly clear. If you don't have high speed internet, you can't participate in the…
FCC Math Puts Rural Broadband at Risk
In December 2020, the FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) conducted a nationwide, $10 billion reverse auction to bring high-speed internet to rural areas. In Ohio, the auction awarded $170 million to 11 providers for a total of 191,000 households.…
