internet access
Four states win federal grants to expand affordable high-speed internet
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday announced the first state awards will go to Virginia, Louisiana, New Hampshire and West Virginia in a massive federal effort to bring affordable, high-speed internet to all American homes and businesses. Projects in the four states are the first to receive funding as part of a $10 billion […]
Community networks fill vital role in providing internet connectivity
Lack of high-speed, high-quality internet access in Ohio is a significant hurdle that negatively impacts everything from how Ohioans learn and make a living to how we keep our communities safe. This challenge has led to major investments by federal and state governments. Unfortunately, some organizations are putting their personal interests ahead of the needs […]
Closing the digital divide is an urgent need. There are immediate solutions at our fingertips
Given the pivotal role that high-speed internet played in allowing us to stay connected and continue functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become clear that it is a vital resource that all Americans deserve to be able to access and afford. Unfortunately, millions of Americans are still without this necessity, putting them at a […]
Ohio Senate president now supportive of broadband internet spending
The leader of the Ohio Senate says he has come around on the issue of broadband internet spending, telling reporters Wednesday he is optimistic that lawmakers can come to an agreement on investing in this public need. Leaders from the Ohio Senate and Ohio House of Representatives are currently negotiating a two-year state budget that […]
Ohio Senate leadership wants no additional $ for broadband expansion
Lawmakers from both parties had been hopeful Ohio would take a big step forward this year to invest in broadband internet expansion throughout the state. Leaders in the Ohio Senate think otherwise. While their counterparts in the Ohio House of Representatives want to allocate millions of dollars for internet expansion projects, Republican state senators want […]
Ohio creates new program to fund broadband internet expansion projects
Supporters call this a good start in providing digital opportunities for all Ohioans A student being able to finish a school project at home with the help of online research. A farmer selling goods using an online marketplace. A busy parent receiving telehealth services from their own living room. An estimated 1 million Ohioans lack […]
Ohio House passes state budget; here’s what to know
Ohio took a step closer toward a constitutional school funding model with the passage Wednesday of a two-year operating budget in the Ohio House of Representatives, a sweeping bill that also proposes an across-the-board income tax cut, a broadband internet expansion plan and more spending to aid businesses struggling from the pandemic. The House passed […]
Legislation seeks to provide internet access in unserved areas of Ohio
Ohio legislators are making quick work on the issue of broadband expansion so far in 2021, with the goal of providing internet access to all areas of the state. A Republican-led effort is already seeing progress during the new legislative term. On Wednesday afternoon, the Ohio Senate voted unanimously to pass a bill to finance […]
What to know about Gov. DeWine’s proposed state budget
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine outlined his administration’s proposed state budget on Monday, calling his plan “truly an investment into our future.” Acknowledging this as being an “extremely challenging time in Ohio,” DeWine nevertheless offered an optimistic view of the coming two years and said 2021 in particular would be a year of recovery. The governor […]
Pandemic highlights gaps in internet access
WASHINGTON — Lawmakers are urging congressional leaders to prioritize emergency funding for high-speed internet access in upcoming coronavirus relief legislation. More than two dozen lawmakers sent a bipartisan letter last week asking Democratic and Republican leaders of the U.S. House and Senate to set aside funding for a temporary emergency relief fund at the Federal Communications […]
Vaping illness, Internet access in rural Ohio and home rule
Each day in our newsletter, we are highlighting stories and commentary from other media big and small throughout Ohio and the nation. If you’d like to get this feature directly to your inbox, please sign up for our newsletter here. Programming note The Ohio Capital Journal will continue to be posting stories at OhioCapitalJournal.com throughout the holidays, though The […]