Concerns remain over Verizon-Frontier deal
10.01.09
The proposed deal that would allow Verizon to sell its landlines to Frontier Communications in 14 states has citizens, unions, and local officials all concerned. Read More »
Ohio Archives
Colorado joins several other states in the quest to shrink the digital divide
09.18.09
Colorado launched a website to gather public input to measure and map the penetration saturation of high-speed Internet throughout the state. The state government and the non-profit organization and Speed Matters partner, Connected Nation, collaborated to develop the website - http://www.connectcolorado.org. Read More »
Ohio makes strides in closing the digital divide
09.14.09
Both public and private entities are successfully bringing broadband services to previously unserved or underserved residents in Ohio and the Appalachia area. Recently, a partnership between the state of Ohio and AT&T brought broadband access to several southern Ohio communities. Read More »
Proposed Verizon-Frontier merger bad for consumers
08.31.09
Earlier this month, the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel filed comments with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio opposing Verizon's proposed sale of its rural access lines to Frontier Communications. Verizon is abandoning rural America and leaving a broad swath of destruction in its wake. Verizon sold its telephone lines in Hawaii. The result: consumers received terrible service quality and Hawaiian Telecom went bankrupt. Verizon sold its lines in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont to tiny FairPoint. The result: terrible service quality and FairPoint is nearly bankrupt. Verizon spun off Idearc - its Yellow Pages operation. The result: bankruptcy. The August 11th Wall Street Journal stated "In all, these companies have lost upward of $13 billion in value and counting." The Journal continued "...[Verizon's CEO] extracted prices that literally sucked the life out of the buyers." Read More »
CWA supports new legislation to bring IT business to rural areas
08.21.09
Rural communities throughout the nation have been hit especially hard by the economic downturn. And one key to attracting new businesses and creating jobs is technology. Congressman Zack Space (OH) and Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (WV) have partnered to introduce the Rural Information Technology Investment Act, a piece of legislation that seeks to rebuild the economies of rural regions for the 21st century. And last week, CWA announced its support of the legislation. Read More »
Federal stimulus dollars vital for broadband expansion
08.04.09
Senator Mark Warner of Virginia recently gathered 400 business, government and nonprofit leaders at Piedmont Virginia Community College to discuss opportunities for using federal stimulus money for broadband in Virginia. Businesses, individuals, and politicians alike stressed the need and importance of broadband access in communities for all different types of business and educational advancements. In addition to broadband access expansion, part of the federal dollars will be put towards innovation using existing broadband Internet connections. Read More »
Connected Nation moves forward in Minnesota, Nevada, Texas, Ohio
07.31.09
Connected Nation continues to expand its broadband initiatives in multiple states, as part of its mission to stimulate deployment and adoption of high-speed Internet to all Americans. They launched interactive broadband mapping tools in Minnesota, were designated the mapping entity in Nevada and Texas, and are making the case for broadband in Ohio. Read More »
Ohio Senator opens doors for broadband
07.30.09
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) recently hosted a seminar with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Connect Ohio, and broadband providers to discuss the benefits of broadband expansion. Sen. Brown and Sen. Tom Harkin, (D-IA) led early debates about and fought to secure funding for broadband access. And now that the $7.2 billon is earmarked, states and service providers are working to coordinate efforts to secure funds. Read More »
Connected Nation launches tool that tracks availability on the census block level
07.21.09
Speed Matters partner Connected Nation has launched a new tool to assist applicants for broadband stimulus funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The interactive map shows broadband availability down to the Census Block level. The tool is open to the general public, though state leaders, broadband providers, and broadband advocates will find it most useful. Users can look at any Census Block within Tennessee and Ohio to find the number of served and unserved households. Read More »
In Minnesota and Ohio, Connected Nation make strides in broadband assessments
07.03.09
In Ohio and Minnesota, Connected Nation groups just released updated maps on broadband availability and survey data on broadband adoption. Such assessments are crucial as states and others vie for funding for broadband expansion in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Read More »
