Use U.S. stimulus funds to widen wireless access, Columbiana leaders propose

By D.a. Wilkinson

SALEM — The Columbiana County Port Authority may turn to federal stimulus funding to finance its plans, which include providing wireless access throughout the county.

Tracy Drake, the authority’s chief executive officer, said this week he would look for funds as proposed by President Barack Obama and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th.

Drake spoke after he voided a contract with B-Telecom Inc. of Chardon.

The authority in 2007 approved an agreement with the company that said it would create a data storage facility and computer assistance center at the authority’s trade park in Leetonia.

The building was erected, but the company never moved in.

As part of the plan, the authority borrowed $1.5 million to acquire two strands of fiber optic cable. There are fiber optic lines for high speed data transmission and storage in Mahoning and Columbiana counties as well as other parts in northeast Ohio.

B-Telecom was to use the cable for its programs and share revenue with the port authority.

The extension of fiber optic lines would allow for secure storage at the trade park and fast retrieval of information.

Lines would branch off the fiber optic network and extend to other portions of Columbiana County.

However, Drake said that with B-Telecom, “nothing was happening.”

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com