Columbiana Co. joins faster Internet plan

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Jim Hoppel, Columbiana County Commissioner

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Penny Traina

STAFF Report

LISBON — Columbiana County Commissioner Jim Hoppel said Wednesday he still has a dial-up connection to the Internet.

It’s very, very slow.

That may change for the commissioner and other county residents.

The commissioners decided Wednesday to throw their broadband and wireless plans in with a new group.

The commissioners voted to join the Southern Ohio Health Care Network and the Connecting Appalachia plan. The county is part of Appalachia.

The plan as envisioned by U.S. Rep. Zack Space of the 18th District, would enlarge a fiber-optic ring now in 13 counties to 34 counties. The counties are south of Columbiana County.

The existing fiber-optic network is used by the Southern Ohio Healthcare Network.

The project would essentially widen the system from hospitals to include schools, libraries and other major institutions.

Hoppel said that cables have been installed in cities in the county. But the service rarely goes to the rural areas. Hoppel said that’s where the wireless service could be offered.

Commissioner Penny Traina said the funding to expand the network would come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and there is no guarantee the project would get funded.