State officials announced that the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant program will begin accepting applications online starting today.

Funded as part of Ohio's 2022-2023 operating budget, the program will provide $250 million in grants to internet service providers for the construction of broadband projects that improve high-speed internet access in unserved and underserved areas of Ohio. Projects will provide service access of at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to residents in areas that do not have a provider that can supply service at this speed.

"This program is a key investment in Ohio's future as we work toward eliminating the digital divide in our state," said Governor DeWine. 

Based on currently available information, 300,000 households in Ohio, representing approximately 1 million Ohioans, are estimated to lack access to broadband internet.

The Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant program was established by House Bill 2 sponsored by Rep. Rick Carfagna and Rep. Brian Stewart.

Internet Service Providers can apply online until Nov. 8, 2021, at 5 p.m. Applications will be reviewed by the Ohio Department of Development and BroadbandOhio, which was created by the DeWine administration in March 2020 to be the point of contact for all broadband projects in Ohio. Eligible applications will be sent to the Ohio Broadband Expansion Program Authority for approval and funding.

More information on the new Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant is available on the Broadband.Ohio.Gov.

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