Rep. Ryan Smith: Encouraging broadband expansion

The world is constantly changing due to technological innovation. In order to keep up with this change, all Ohioans should have access to the infrastructure that supports these new technologies. Unfortunately, this is not the case throughout a large swath of Ohio. That is why my colleague Rep. Jack Cera and I recently introduced House Bill 378 in the Ohio House of Representatives. House Bill 378 is bipartisan legislation designed to spur businesses, nonprofits, co-ops, and local governments to invest in the expansion of high-speed broadband capability.

The bill would create a grant program to assist these entities in bringing broadband infrastructure to unserved areas of our state. This money will be available via the proceeds of bonds issued in support of the Third Frontier Program, an initiative that provides a statewide network for businesses and entrepreneurs to grow, hire, and invest. Each entity would be able to apply for up to $5 million in grant funding through Ohio's Development Services Agency, which will administer the program.

Wireless capability is often unreliable throughout much of southern and southeastern Ohio, even in the places where it is currently present, and more work must be done to remedy this problem. Where it is unavailable, the effects of the absence in service are quite clear. The issue negatively affects education, public safety, tourism, and economic development efforts, among others.

Students of all ages are increasingly using and learning from new forms of technology and are often required to complete homework online. First responders are sometimes unable to access satellite mapping in certain locations or quickly transmit patient data due to lack of bandwidth. For many out-of-state tourists who visit our area, high-speed broadband is commonplace. Some rely on wireless connectivity no matter where they travel and may go elsewhere to spend their money if connectivity is poor or absent. Finally, many businesses looking to expand operations will not even consider an area that lacks reliable wireless capability.

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