High-speed internet program grants available

COLUMBUS — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced that the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant program will begin accepting applications online starting today.

Funded as part of Ohio’s 2022-2023 operating budget, the program will provide $250 million in grants to internet service providers for the construction of broadband projects that improve high-speed internet access in unserved and underserved areas of Ohio. Projects will provide service access of at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to residents in areas that do not have a provider that can supply service at this speed.

“This program is a key investment in Ohio’s future as we work toward eliminating the digital divide in our state,” said Gov. DeWine. “Connecting our rural and underserved areas with reliable internet service will help bring these communities up to speed with the rest of the state and will be a driving force for economic growth.”

The Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant program, which was established in House Bill 2 sponsored by Rep. Rick Carfagna and Rep. Brian Stewart, is a key component of the DeWine-Husted Administration’s comprehensive Broadband Strategy that aims to build a high-tech broadband network throughout the state. Based on currently available information, 300,000 households in Ohio, representing approximately 1 million Ohioans, are estimated to lack access to broadband internet.

Internet Service Providers can apply online from Sept. 6, 2021, until Nov. 8, 2021, at 5 p.m. Applications will be reviewed by the Ohio Department of Development and Broadband Ohio, which was created by the DeWine-Husted Administration in March 2020 to be the point of contact for all broadband projects in Ohio. Eligible applications will be sent to the Ohio Broadband Expansion Program Authority for approval and funding.