Ohio Governor's Office Press ReleaseColumbus, OH – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today congratulated five Ohio broadband projects that received $14.4 million in broadband infrastructure funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The awards help to create jobs in seven rural counties and extend broadband service to rural areas.
“Connecting our rural communities to high-speed Internet will link more workers to the global economy and transform classrooms,” Strickland said. “These critical investments will create jobs and lay the groundwork for long-term economic growth in communities across Ohio.”
Connect Ohio, a nonprofit public-private initiative established to work with telecommunication providers and communities to increase the adoption and availability of high-speed Internet service to Ohio residents and businesses, was closely involved in assisting New Era Broadband and Nelsonville TV Cable develop the strongest applications possible.
"This funding will help residents take advantage of the benefits available through access to high-speed Internet service," Connect Ohio Executive Director Tom Fritz said. "It highlights the importance of the broadband mapping and planning efforts Ohio has undertaken since 2007 as part of Governor Strickland’s Connect Ohio initiative.”
The Ohio projects that received funding are:
New Era Broadband, $2.9 million: This award will allow New Era Broadband to deliver high speed broadband services to unserved communities in Meigs County. New Era Broadband's project stands to benefit more than 8,000 people, 165 businesses and six community institutions, and the project will directly support at least 200 jobs upfront and help drive economic development in the community.
Sycamore Telephone Company (Inc), $4.1 million: Sycamore Telephone proposes to build a Fiber-to-the-Home system within the village of Sycamore, the village of Melmore, and the Village of McCutchenville. More than 4,200 people, approximately 450 local businesses and 14 community institutions stand to benefit from this improved service. Not only will this project create jobs upfront, it will help drive economic development.
Southern Ohio Communication Services, Inc, $1.4 million: This award will provide broadband and Voice Over Internet Protocol services to the unserved and underserved population in Pike County, Ohio. Southern Ohio's project stands to benefit approximately 14,000 people, 180 businesses, and several other community institutions. Southern Ohio estimates that this project will directly create at least 400 jobs upfront and help drive economic development in the community that creates jobs for years to come.
Utopian Wireless Corporation, $1.4 million: This award will bring WiMax infrastructure to rural communities in and around Kinsman, Ohio, and will provide broadband access to underserved households and businesses as well as discounted services. Utopian Wireless' project stands to benefit approximately 7,000 people, and 600 businesses, and other community institutions. In addition to the jobs this project will create upfront, it will help drive economic development.
Nelsonville TV Cable, Inc, $4.6 million: This award will allow Nelsonville TV Cable to extend HFC Digital Cable Services to unserved areas of Athens, Hocking, and Morgan Counties in Ohio. Nelsonville TV Cable's project stands to benefit more than 3,500 people. In addition, over 3,000 businesses and 20 community institutions stand to benefit from this project. Not only will this project create jobs upfront, but it will also help drive economic development in the community that will help create jobs for years to come.
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Labels: Connect Ohio, Ted Strickland
