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 37^th 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MODERNIZATION OF OUTDATED INFRASTRUCTURE IS NECESSARY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.