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State aims to bring broadband to rural counties
The state and port authority may have the same objective.
LISBON — The Ohio Department of Education wants to increase broadband computer access to rural counties.
Gary Lambert, who is working with the state education department, told Columbiana County commissioners at their Wednesday meeting that he would like to further discuss the idea with Tracy Drake, chief executive officer of the Columbiana County Port Authority.
The port authority promotes economic development with the county and commerce on the Ohio River.
Lambert said much of the cost would be paid by the state.
He is working with counties in Ohio, like Columbiana, that are formally included in Appalachia.
Drake recently canceled a contract with a Chardon business that planned to expand broadband in the county but never got a plan rolling.
Lambert said a broadband system could be ready for operation in six to eight months.
The expansion is part of an educational initiative promoted by Gov. Ted Strickland. The state assistance per county works out to about $1.3 million, he added.
Commissioner Jim Hoppel asked him what the program could do for the county.
Lambert said it would aid schools, give students access to Web-based educational programs, increase offerings by public libraries and would be used as a tool to promote economic development.
Among the first questions companies ask officials when seeking to build in or move to an area, Lambert said, is “Do you have broadband?”
Transmissions can be routed in the hilly county via repeaters on transmission towers used by sheriff offices, he added.
Drake indicated that he was working on a new effort to get broadband access into the county.
Under Drake’s plan, lines could be run from the county’s fiber-optic system, and then broadcast.
Another new proposal being discussed, Drake said, is for a wireless system to be established along the Ohio River. He said he learned of that broadband plan from officials at the Port of Pittsburgh.
wilkinson@vindy.com