Feds provide $118M to boost broadband in Ohio

COLUMBUS (AP) — The White House has announced $118 million in new stimulus spending to expand high-speed Internet service in Ohio.

Gov. Ted Strickland says the funding announced today will go to three projects and create more than 430 jobs.

A company in Chillicothe has been awarded $66.5 million to offer broadband service in 34 southern and eastern Ohio counties. U.S. Rep. Zack Space says the connections will create economic opportunities for rural businesses.

A Cleveland-based nonprofit will receive $44.8 million for nearly 1,000 miles of new fiber-optic cable to extend broadband in northeast Ohio.

A third project will use $6.9 million to upgrade computer centers and provide new training programs and public computer work stations.