Thousands of residents in this isolated, hilly county face barriers in getting high-speed Internet service – something that many Ohioans in other parts of the state take for granted.
Complete Story
09/07/2017
Ohio Senate bill aims to increase broadband across state
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A bipartisan proposed bill in the Ohio Senate would make $100 million available to expand broadband into communities without high-speed internet access.
About 300,000 rural Ohio households and 88,500 businesses lack broadband - getting online through slower dial-up or satellite service. They visit public libraries and work on their mobile devices if they want higher speeds.
In Vinton County, high-speed internet is still often a pipe dream: Ohio Matters
Sens. Joe Schiavoni, a Boardman Democrat who is also running for governor, and Cliff Hite, a Findlay Republican, said a lack of broadband - which comes by way of cable, fiber and wireless technologies - is an impediment that leaves students, job seekers and businesses behind.
Telecommunications companies hesitate to expand broadband into rural areas. It typically costs about $26,000 a mile to lay down fiber. If an area only has six houses - and studies show maybe four of the six will sign up for high-speed service once it arrives - it takes over 13 years for a company charging $50 a month to begin to see a return on the investment, said Stu Johnson, a vice president with Connect Ohio, a nonprofit with a mission to help Ohio advance and adopt high-speed internet.
