BROOKLYN, Ohio — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from a previous story.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted and Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish announced a plan to bring high-speed internet access to 25,000 homes in the area.
Via the office of Broadband Ohio, the state will contribute $9.7 million in funding for the initiative, which will be matched by Cuyahoga County. Partnering with PCs For People, the nearly $20 million investment will be used to provide in-home, high-speed internet access to roughly 25,000 Cuyahoga County households, including some neighborhoods that are considered to be some of the least connected in the county.
The internet access will be available to communities for $15 a month, or in some cases, for free.
“This project is a result of focused efforts on both the state and local level to address a critical need in Cuyahoga County,” Lt. Governor Husted said. “In order to participate in the modern economy, education and healthcare system, Ohioans need access to broadband, and with this announcement, we are making that access a reality. As our administration continues to prioritize broadband expansion, we look forward to working with our partners on the local level, along with the private sector, to bridge the digital divide wherever we can.”
Added Budish: “Some residents are forced to choose between access to the internet and paying for their next meal. No one should ever have to make that choice. The State has pledged $9.7 million to match the County’s commitment to connect residents to affordable, high-speed internet. This initiative makes it clear that the partners understand that this is not just an investment in lasting infrastructure, but an investment into our residents’ well-being.”
According to a release, the initiative calls for PCs for People to build a fixed-wireless network that can support approximately 20,000 suburban households across 77 census tracts where more than 20 percent of the population does not have home internet. Additionally, it will implement a wired approach to be used in multi-dwelling units such as apartment buildings and complexes, adding up to 5,000 households to reach the network capacity of 25,000.