Rural America cannot remain disconnected
BROADBAND AVAILABILITY AND HIGH SPEED INTERNET IS ESSENTIAL
Fair access to education, healthcare, quality employment and economic growth is dependent on reliable technology and the ability to access information. Overall Ohio is ranked 37th in internet connectivity in the nation with the least connected region being the 32 Appalachian counties in the southeast portion of the state, home to 80% of the unserved households further widening the inequities in services and economic disparities
In Ohio we need to embark on initiatives that will leverage state and federal broadband expenditures, prioritizing the high-cost last-mile deployments as well as funding subsidy programs to enable low income households to participate in the internet age.
MODERNIZATION OF OUTDATED INFRASTRUCTURE IS NECESSARY
Rural America is stranded, without a telecommunication structure that meets modern standards. In areas where fiber optic cable is urgently needed, decrepit copper wire, long past life expectancy, constrains the reach and quality of broadband.
The capital costs for fiber are high but it has the capacity to sustain ever-expanding speeds and deliver stable services decades. In the rugged terrain and heavy foliage cover of the region, fiber is the ONLY option that can reach 100% of households The high cost of building last-mile broadband infrastructure in areas of low population density deters private investment. To succeed-the solutions will require sustained public sector capital investments and public-private partnerships.
STAY CONNECTED WITH CURRENT INITIATIVES
Legislators across the nation have stated their commitment to invest to find a solution to the challenges faced by rural America and the inequities in access to broadband services.
Would you like to stay up-to-date with all that Connecting Appalachia is doing for this region?
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Connecting Appalachia
Billions of dollars have been invested to address the disparities in internet access across the country. Yet reliable high-speed broadband service is out-of-reach for the millions who live in rural communities. .
Bridging the digital divide in Appalachia requires a multi-stakeholder effort. For over a decade the Connecting Appalachia consortium has advocated for federal funding for broadband expansion in our focus area. The 34 counties span 17,000 square miles in southern and eastern Ohio. The goal is to establish and expand broadband service to support the economic, educational and cultural well-being of the region.
Connecting Appalachia's advocacy efforts are additionally funded by supporting government agencies, civic organizations, community groups and utility partners.
OUR ADVOCACY
PROJECT PARTNERS
PO BOX 714 | ATHENS, OHIO 45701
INFO@CONNECTINGAPPALACHIA.ORG
Connecting Appalachia
