Ohio Launches Substantial Broadband Program to Serve Rural Markets

Even before the Work from Home movement was launched by COVID 19, the availability of broadband telecommunications network was an essential economic development tool. Access to digital services is reliant on a high-speed data services infrastructure. As the map below illustrates, rural communities throughout Ohio remain behind in the availability of broadband services.

Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly took a big step forward to develop the broadband network through the Ohio operating budget recently enacted. The bill provides $230.0 M in FY 2022 and $20.0 M in FY 2023 for the program, creating the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant Program with grants awarded by the Broadband Ohio office within the Ohio Development Department (ODOD) to fund the construction of broadband projects in unserved areas of the state. The Ohio Development Department will adopt rules for the grant program including rules for an application form and application procedures and procedures for periodic program grant disbursements. The Ohio Development Department requires the establishment of a weighted scoring system to evaluate and select applications for program grants. The Ohio Development Department’s scoring system must prioritize applications according to certain factors listed in order from highest to lowest and, as an example, lists the highest two factors as eligible projects in unserved areas, rather than tier one areas and eligible projects located in distressed areas.

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