Sen. Brown joins Agriculture Sec. Vilsack and Rep. Space to hold rural community forum

ZANESVILLE, OHIO – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary (USDA) Tom Vilsack and U.S. Rep. Zack Space today to hold a community forum in Zanesville as part of the Obama Administration’s Rural Tour.

“For too long, Ohio’s small towns and rural communities were overlooked,” Brown said. “We’re working to change that by making the federal government a partner in creating new jobs and economic activity in small towns. By investing in broadband, clean energy, and water infrastructure, we can make communities in Ohio competitive in the 21st century...”

Ohio's online speed falling behind

There's a bit of a traffic jam on the Ohio information superhighway, according to a new study that measures the average speed of Internet downloads.

The average speed in Ohio is 4.4 megabits, a jump from last year's rate of 4.0...

Connect Ohio identifies priorities

JEFFERSON —Three priority projects have been identified for Ashtabula County as the result of Connect Ohio’s work in the county this year.

Connect Ohio is a statewide effort to expand broadband Internet access. Countywide meetings have been held in Jefferson this year to bring broadband stakeholders to the table to identify needs and find solutions...

Team continues focus on high-speed Internet

Team continues focus on high-speed Internet

An eCommunity Leadership Team has been formed, under the direction of Connect Ohio, to identify the community's strengths and weaknesses, cast a vision for a future that takes full advantage of high-speed connectivity.

This team will develop strategies to affect positive change and lead the effort to install specific solutions to take advantage of the opportunities available to Preble County. Members of the eCommunity Leadership Team were selected based upon their interest, influence and ability to address the initiative from the perspective of several specific community sectors...

Rural broadband Internet survey offers prizes > News > News & Events > Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF)

Ohio Farm Bureau Federaion (OFBF) members have the opportunity to win one of six free computers or broadband Internet access for a year by providing feedback on their access to broadband connections.

Connect Ohio is a comprehensive initiative to make broadband Internet service available and affordable across all of Ohio, and it’s asking for Farm Bureau members’ help in doing so...

Bascom Communications still investing - Advertiser-Tribune.com | News, sports, jobs, Tiffin, Ohio - The Advertiser-Tribune

Since the economic recession began, people have witnessed layoffs and the closing of businesses, but Bascom Communications still is investing. The company's latest investment is the acquirement of a licensed 700 MHz spectrum, which allows it to provide fixed wireless broadband service to areas that otherwise would not get it.

"We try to do what the Connect Ohio initiative does on our own, which is to offer service to everyone at the best of our ability," Brickner said. Being a local cooperative helps this cause because it can bypass stockholders and major corporations, who focus more on profit than people, he added. Each person who has telephone, cable or wired high-speed Internet is a member of Bascom Communications, and therefore, treated equally...

Evans: Be heard in broadband application

COLUMBUS — Southern Ohio businesses, organizations and residents are being encouraged by State Rep. Clyde Evans to work together to apply for a share of $7.2 billion in federal stimulus money for broadband Internet technology.

Applications for the first of three phases of federal broadband stimulus funding available under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 are due Aug. 14...

Internet report given

Brown County officials, business leaders, and public educators convened to discuss bringing broadband Internet to rural residents in the county Friday, July 31. The Connect Ohio group gave updates on some of the progress made in bringing broadband Internet to previously unreached areas.

The biggest announcement came from Gary Cooper, president of Southern Ohio Communications Services, who has developed a plan to bring wireless broadband Internet to Jackson, Pike, Adams, Brown and Highland counties...

Connected Nation moves forward in Minnesota, Nevada, Texas, Ohio | Speed Matters – Internet Speed Test

Connected Nation continues to expand its broadband initiatives in multiple states, as part of its mission to stimulate deployment and adoption of high-speed Internet to all Americans.

And in Madison County, Ohio, Connect Ohio is bringing the message of broadband to the 47% of the county, that according to their consumer surveys, say they don't see any benefits from broadband. According to Connect Ohio surveys, only 9% of households in this rural community are without a computer, yet 50% do not subscribe to broadband.

A recent article in Madison County's local paper, The Madison Press, highlights the many benefits of broadband for residents of rural Madison County. With high speed broadband, residents would be able to make full use of the Madison Country Sheriff Department's robust web site, a service that allows residents leaving for vacation to register their homes online for inclusion in safety patrols while they're away...

Ohio Senator opens doors for broadband | Speed Matters – Internet Speed Test

Earlier this week, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a seminar with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Connect Ohio, and broadband providers to discuss the benefits of broadband expansion. The USDA is largely responsible for rural development and a primary focus of the broadband expansion is on rural communities.

Sen. Brown and Sen. Tom Harkin, (D-IA) led early debates about and fought to secure funding for broadband access. And now that the $7.2 billon is earmarked, states and service providers are working to coordinate efforts to secure funds...

Evans urges broadband applications

COLUMBUS—State Representative Clyde Evans (R-Rio Grande) is encouraging southern Ohio businesses, organizations and residents to work together to apply for a share of $7.2 billion in federal stimulus money for broadband Internet technology.

Applications for the first of three phases of federal broadband stimulus funding available under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 are due Aug. 14...