Aug 31 2010
Connect Ohio has received $44.8 million stimulus grant to expand broadband communications infrastructure in the Ashtabula County. Preliminary map indicates that the fiber-optic cable will enter the Ashtabula County from the Geauga County and move southwards into the Trumbull County.
The Comprehensive Community Infrastructure Program designed by the U.S. Department of Commerce awarded the grant to OneCommunity. The grant will help in adding up to 1,000 miles of optical fiber cable to OneCommunity’s broadband network. The network, when completed, will serve 27 northeast counties in Ohio.
The fiber-optic network project is a part of the Ohio Middle Mile Consortium that aims to provide broadband services to unserved and underserved people in Ohio. The aim of OneCommunity is to change northeast Ohio into a high-tech powerhouse. Both regional and local service providers will use the fiber-optic network to provide high-speed data-transfer to libraries, schools and businesses.
Connect Ohio’s State Operations Manager, Jeff Beebe stated that online shopping companies, data-storage services and call center businesses require high speed broadband connectivity. Stimulus grant will enable OneCommunity to build fiber optic network in northeast Ohio. The network is expected to be completed by the middle of 2013, he said.