Connect Ohio; A catalyst for broadband access in Rural Warren County

Connect Ohio is working with local communities to assess their technology needs/provide local support while helping to expand broadband service to all residents and businesses. To review the broadband needs of Warren County, Connect Ohio's State Operations Manager for Southwest Ohio, Sage Cutler, convened several meetings of community leaders throughout 2009 to analyze and address issues regarding the County's technology needs.

A specific need that arose from the meetings was the lack of broadband service through much of Harlan Township, Warren County. Several citizens of Harlan Township expressed the positive impact broadband service would have for their community, but also shared the difficulty they had encountered in obtaining the needed investment for a rural part of the county. The matter was assigned to a sub-committee led by Martin Russell of the Warren County Economic Development Office tasked to create/implement strategies to improve the broadband infrastructure within Warren County...

New report demonstrates importance of broadband to Ohio's economy

A new report confirms that broadband technology provides an economic boost to Ohio, creating 15,000 to 30,000 jobs annually. Approximately half of all companies in Ohio receive $1.50 of every $10 in revenue from online transactions, according to "The Evolution of Telecom and the Ohio Template for Reform: 2009," which was released last week.

"This study shows that 59 percent of all businesses use broadband as part of their business model. They use it for all kinds of purposes, including online shipment tracking, selling or accepting orders, online training, or contract bidding," said Andrew Doehrel, president and chief executive officer of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. "Broadband has become a way of life for Ohio businesses." Ohio in recent years has been working toward expanding broadband use.

Two years ago the state launched a public-private partnership that created the nonprofit Connect Ohio Initiatives LLC to help expand broadband Internet access throughout the state, especially in rural and outlying regions...

Progress continues on county broadband plan - Jackson and Vinton County's Home Page - www.theTelegramNews.com - Jackson, OH

The development of a broadband Internet service "Wireless Web Ring" in Jackson County was discussed Wednesday morning, October 21, in the Jackson City Library's Potter Room.

Leading the discussion was Don Shirley, the Southeast Region Field Director for the Connect Ohio organization. Involved in the discussion were Jackson County Economic Development Director Jennifer Jacobs, Small Business Specialist Samuel L. Brady, Jackson County Water Company General Manager Larry Foster, Wellston City Engineer Tim Wojdacz and local businessman and entrepreneur Pat Ball...

Pickaway County’s rural residents slowly getting access to fast Internet - Business First of Columbus:

For rural Pickaway County residents, the recession’s silver lining may be a faster Web connection.

Chris Cooper, president of Intelliwave LLC, is working to bring broadband Internet access to those in the county coping with sluggish dial-up service. According to Connect Ohio, a public-private effort working to expand broadband service, about 3,300 of Pickaway County’s more than 17,600 households don’t have access to broadband Internet...