The Ohio House approved a bill to establish a fund to provide broadband internet to unserved and underserved areas of the state.
The legislation targets “last-mile connectivity” to households where it remains cost-prohibitive for providers to extend service. It would focus the funding primarily on 37 “distressed counties,” including Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.
The bill was approved 91-5 Thursday by the House. It still needs passage from the state Senate. The same bill was recently introduced in the upper chamber by state Sen. Rob McColley, R-Napoleon.
The bill sets aside $20 million in fiscal year 2021, which begins in July, then $170 million in fiscal year 2022 and $20 million in fiscal year 2023 for areas not served or underserved by broadband, said state Rep. Michael J. O’Brien, D-Warren. He sponsored the same bill last year that passed the House in June, but died in the Senate.
dskolnick@tribtoday.com
The Ohio House approved a bill to establish a fund to provide broadband internet to unserved and underserved areas of the state.
The legislation targets “last-mile connectivity” to households where it remains cost-prohibitive for providers to extend service. It would focus the funding primarily on 37 “distressed counties,” including Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.
The bill was approved 91-5 Thursday by the House. It still needs passage from the state Senate. The same bill recently was introduced in the upper chamber by state Sen. Rob McColley, R-Napoleon.
The bill sets aside $20 million in fiscal year 2021, which begins in July, then $170 million in fiscal year 2022 and $20 million in fiscal year 2023 for areas not served or underserved by broadband, said state Rep. Michael J. O’Brien, D-Warren. He sponsored the same bill last year that passed the House in June but died in the Senate.