A road map to universal high speed Internet access in Ohio
The state of Ohio's high speed Internet access just got a whole lot clearer.
Today, Connect Ohio, a public-private partnership established last year by Governor Ted Strickland to close Ohio's digital divide, released the state's first high speed Internet availability map. For the first time, state officials have a solid picture of who has access to crucial high speed Internet connections -- and who is being left behind.
The map can be found here. According to its findings, high speed Internet is available to 92 percent of Ohio households, leaving some 350,000 households without access. Moreover, many of those that do have access likely do not have the fastest, most advanced connections that are necessary for bandwidth-intensive applications like streaming video.
CWA has been a strong supporter -- and participant -- in Ohio's efforts to expand high speed Internet access. In December CWA Local 4321 President Frank Mathews was named to Ohio's Broadband Council, bringing his important skills and leadership to the initiative. And CWA District 4 Vice President Seth Rosen offered his praise for Connect Ohio's new mapping effort:
"This map is an important first step to making sure that every part of Ohio's 88 counties is connected. Connect Ohio will now provide the opportunity for underserved communities to work together with providers, unions and other leaders to assure that we take the next steps."
The new map will direct Connect Ohio's efforts in the coming months, providing a basis for where the organization should focus its energy and resources. With Governor Strickland's commitment and CWA's involvement, there's real hope that Connect Ohio can bridge the state's digital divide once and for all.
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