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Major Broadband legislation passes Ohio House
Posted on: 06/17/2020
Southeast Ohio has been plagued with little or no internet service for many years and reports say that in the entire state, around 1 million Ohioans lack a reliable connection and around 300,000 households don't have any internet options at all.
Ohio is one step closer now. It's Ohio's first-ever Residential Broadband Expansion Program. Nelsonville Republican State Representative Jay Edwards called the passage of House Bill 13, critical for economic development and educational opportunities. Edwards put a focus on Southeast Ohio where the topography and low population density have been impediments on expansion.
The COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools and has underscored the importance of high-speed internet all across the state.
House Bill 13 contains a grant program proposal which will help offset construction cost hurdles to facilitate expansion in Ohio. The grant program is said to be funded in the future will twenty million dollars for the remainder of the 2-year state budget.
The bill passed with a vote of 81-8 and now awaits further action from the Ohio Senate.
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