State broadband website(s):
BroadbandOhio, a division of the Ohio Development Services Agency (Development), is the state office dedicated to enhancing broadband-related activity within the state. , a subsidiary of the non-profit Connected Nation, is another state entity focused on coordinating state-level broadband mapping initiatives.
State broadband contact(s):
Connect Ohio served as the state’s sole repository for broadband efforts since 2008 and funded through a state appropriation until June 30, 2017.
In 2012, Ohio invested $13.1 million in upgrades to increase the capacity of the OARnet network tenfold to 100 Gbps. The enhanced network provides connections to 10 major cities, 90 colleges and universities, numerous data centers and application service providers to support education, research and government efforts.
In 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $6.8 million through the TIGER VII grant program to the Ohio Department of Transportation for its Transit Tech Ohio Project. These funds have been used to upgrade software and hardware up to a statewide minimum, and to expand broadband into areas of the state with insufficient access to support the upgraded technology.
In 2019, InnovateOhio and the Ohio Department of Transportation issued a Request for Information to better understand how best to utilize state assets to expand broadband coverage throughout the state. That report, issued in September 2019, outlined the need for a statewide broadband strategy. The Ohio Broadband Strategy was then released by InnovateOhio in December 2019, and among the recommendations identified the need for a state broadband office.
In February 2020, BroabandOhio was established as division of Development.
State broadband coordinator:
BroadbandOhio, a division of the Ohio Development Services Agency (Development), is the state office dedicated to enhancing broadband-related activity within the state. , a subsidiary of the non-profit Connected Nation, is another state entity focused on coordinating state-level broadband mapping initiatives.
Broadband programs:
Connect Ohio served as the state’s sole repository for broadband efforts since 2008 and funded through a state appropriation until June 30, 2017.
In 2012, Ohio invested $13.1 million in upgrades to increase the capacity of the OARnet network tenfold to 100 Gbps. The enhanced network provides connections to 10 major cities, 90 colleges and universities, numerous data centers and application service providers to support education, research and government efforts.
In 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $6.8 million through the TIGER VII grant program to the Ohio Department of Transportation for its Transit Tech Ohio Project. These funds have been used to upgrade software and hardware up to a statewide minimum, and to expand broadband into areas of the state with insufficient access to support the upgraded technology.
In 2019, InnovateOhio and the Ohio Department of Transportation issued a Request for Information to better understand how best to utilize state assets to expand broadband coverage throughout the state. That report, issued in September 2019, outlined the need for a statewide broadband strategy. The Ohio Broadband Strategy was then released by InnovateOhio in December 2019, and among the recommendations identified the need for a state broadband office.
In February 2020, BroabandOhio was established as division of Development.
Funding for broadband:
A dedicated funding source does not currently exists for broadband-related activities, but BroadbandOhio is working to coordinate efforts between federal and local programs. BroadbandOhio is also working with the Ohio General Assembly on legislation to create a broadband grant program, as was recommended in the statewide strategy.
State Broadband Plan: The Ohio Broadband Strategy can be found on the InnovateOhio Website here: https://innovateohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/innovate/priorities/resources/broadband/
State information is gathered by BroadbandUSA using publically available sources (e.g. state websites). The information is validated by the points-of-contact at each state-level agency(-ies). This information was last updated Summer 2018. The information is reviewed and updated periodically.