Governor DeWine Announces New Chapter of BroadbandOhio Community Accelerator

Program to provide informational sessions across state to support broadband expansion

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik today announced details of an impactful learning opportunity for communities looking to expand broadband access in their area.

Throughout the month of May, Ohio's Broadband Community Accelerator Program will be hosting sessions in five regions across the state to update local leaders on past, current, and upcoming broadband projects-and help communities prepare for future state and federal funding opportunities.

"As we move closer to achieving universal coverage across Ohio, local leaders will continue to play an important role because they understand the unique needs of their community," said Governor DeWine. "These sessions will provide guidance on how to leverage funding opportunities and successful projects in the future."

The project is a collaborative effort between the Department of Development's BroadbandOhio office and The Ohio State University Extension.

"Ensuring that every household is connected to high-speed internet is a multi-layered process, and education is a key aspect of that," said Lt. Governor Tressel. "Through the BroadbandOhio Accelerator program, we're ensuring that every community receives the expert support they're going to need as they look to take advantage of additional funding over the coming months and years."

The first information session will take place at 2 p.m. May 5 at the Ramser 4-H Activity Central in Knox County, followed by sessions at 2 p.m. May 7 at the City of Eaton Youth Center in Preble County, 2 p.m. May 12 at the Main Library Branch in Stark County, 2 p.m. May 19 at the Paulding County OSU Extension Building, and 2 p.m. May 20 at the Athens Public Library in Athens County.

Key topics include:

• How communities can prepare for funding through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. BEAD was established in 2021 as part of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Ohio is receiving $793 million through the federal program to build broadband networks, implement subsidies to reduce internet service costs for low-income households, and develop digital opportunity programs.
• An overview of broadband terminology and a brief explanation of broadband technology to help local leaders better understand the landscape.
• Information related to available resources and the important roles that communities, anchor institutions, and local leaders play in advancing broadband development during this phase of Ohio's expansion efforts.

"Closing the digital divide starts with the local champions who are working hard to get their communities connected," said Director Mihalik. "Through the efforts of our BroadbandOhio team, we're standing alongside these partners to make sure everyone in our state has all the resources they need to thrive."

During previous rounds of the Accelerator program, teams were created across multiple counties to help leverage broadband infrastructure funding for community-driven broadband expansion. Four teams, made up of 50 representatives from 11 counties across the state, participated in the inaugural cohort of the Accelerator program in 2022. Another seven teams from nine counties participated in the second cohort in 2023, with five teams participating in 2024 during the third round of the program.

Additional questions about the sessions can be directed to the BroadbandOhio office at broadbandohio@development.ohio.gov. Media looking to attend an information session are asked to RSVP before the event to Mason.Waldvogel@development.ohio.gov

The Ohio Department of Development empowers communities to succeed by investing in Ohio's people, places, and businesses. Learn more about our work at development.ohio.gov.