Region in race to speed up Internet | cincinnati.com | Cincinnati.Com

Two of the region's largest providers of high-speed Internet may soon join the race for federal stimulus funds to push faster computer access into more Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky homes.

Unlike other parts of the country, the need isn't availability - the region is one of the most wired in the Midwest.

Connect Ohio, an offshoot of the Washington-based nonprofit broadband advocacy group Connected Nation, estimates that increasing broadband adoption in Hamilton, Butler and Warren counties by 7 percent would help create or retain more than 27,000 jobs and increase income by about $440 million. Such a study is under way for Clermont County, but has not been done for Kentucky...