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Ohio Broadband Strategy: Make Your Voice Heard

Ohio Broadband Strategy: Make Your Voice Heard

BroadbandOhio has announced a statewide stakeholder outreach effort that will support updates to the Ohio Broadband Strategy and the development of a comprehensive plan to leverage federal funding to close the digital divide.
BroadbandOhio was awarded $5 million by the U.S. Department of Commerce to conduct stakeholder outreach as a first step towards receiving full allocation of federal funds through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and Digital Equity Act.

Why This Matters

The BEAD program provides $42.45 billion to all 50 states and U.S. territories to fund planning, infrastructure, deployment, and adoption programs for expanding broadband connectivity throughout the next five years.

The Digital Equity Act provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs aimed at promoting digital opportunity – ensuring all people and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity to fully participate in the modern world. These three programs are:

  • State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, a $60 million grant for states and U.S. territories to develop digital opportunity plans.
  • State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, a $1.44 billion, five-year grant for states and U.S. territories that supports the development of digital opportunity plans and the implementation of related projects.
  • Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, a $1.25 billion, five-year program funding annual grants aimed at implementing digital opportunity projects.

We Want to Hear from You

Beginning March 16, 2023, BroadbandOhio will conduct a series of in-person listening sessions and live webinars in communities across Ohio. All Ohio residents, businesses, internet service providers, government entities and nonprofit-community-based organizations are encouraged to participate.

BroadbandOhio is especially interested in hearing from unserved and underrepresented populations, including:

  • Low-income individuals
  • People with disabilities
  • Older Ohioans
  • People with language barriers
  • Incarcerated individuals
  • Racial and ethnic minorities
  • Veterans
  • People living in rural areas

Event Schedule

March 16

Listening Session 1 – Mt. Gilead
March 16
Mt. Gilead Public Library
41 E. High St., Mt. Gilead, Ohio 43338

  • 10:30 a.m. – Businesses and Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
  • 1 p.m. – Local Government
  • 2:30 p.m. – Nonprofits and Community Organizations
  • 4 p.m. – Ohio Residents

March 17

Webinar 1 – Local Government Entities
March 17 | 10-11 a.m.
Attend the webinar here

March 21

Listening Session 2 – Rio Grande
March 21
University of Rio Grande, Bob Evans Farms Hall
65 Bevo Francis Way, Rio Grande, Ohio 45674

  • 10:30 a.m. – Businesses and Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
  • 1 p.m. – Local Government
  • 2:30 p.m. – Nonprofits and Community Organizations
  • 4 p.m. – Ohio Residents
The March 23rd listening session has been postponed to a later date.

March 23
(Postponed)

Listening Session 3 – Cambridge
March 23 POSTPONED TO A LATER DATE
Guernsey County District Public Library – Crossroads Branch
63500 Byesville Rd., Cambridge, Ohio 43725

  • 9:30 a.m. - Businesses and Internet Service Providers
  • 11 a.m. - Local Government
  • 1:15 p.m. - Nonprofits and Community Organizations

March 23 POSTPONED TO A LATER DATE
Cambridge Performing Arts Center
642 Wheeling Ave., Cambridge, Ohio 43725

  • 4 p.m. - Ohio Residents

March 28

Webinar 2 – Ohio Residents
March 28 | 4-5 p.m.
Attend the webinar here

March 30

Listening Session 4 – Xenia
March 30
Xenia Community Library
76 E. Market St., Xenia, Ohio 45385

  • 10:30 a.m. – Businesses and Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
  • 1 p.m. – Local Government
  • 2:30 p.m. – Nonprofits and Community Organizations
  • 4 p.m. – Ohio Residents

April 4

Listening Session 5 – Toledo
April 4
Toledo Lucas County Library – Main Meeting Room
325 N. Michigan St., Toledo, Ohio 43604

  • 10:30 a.m. – Businesses and Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
  • 1 p.m. – Local Government
  • 2:30 p.m. – Nonprofits and Community Organizations
  • 4 p.m. – Ohio Residents

April 5

Webinar 3 – Nonprofits and Community Organizations
April 5 | 2-3 p.m.
Attend the webinar here

April 6

Listening Session 6 – Findlay
April 6
Findlay-Hancock County Public Library
206 Broadway St., Findlay, Ohio 45840

  • 12 p.m. – Businesses and Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
  • 2:30 p.m. – Local Government
  • 4 p.m. – Nonprofits and Community Organizations
  • 5:30 p.m. – Ohio Residents

April 12

Webinar 4 – Ohio Residents
April 12 | 4-5 p.m.
Attend the webinar here

April 13

Listening Session 7 – Cleveland
April 13
The Midtown Tech Hive
6815 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44103

  • 10:30 a.m. – Businesses and Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
  • 1 p.m. – Local Government
  • 2:30 p.m. – Nonprofits and Community Organizations
  • 4 p.m. – Ohio Residents
April 18

Webinar 5 - Internet service providers
April 18 | 10-11 a.m.
Attend the webinar here

April 20

Listening Session 8 – Youngstown
April 20
Eastgate Regional Council of Governments
100 E. Federal St. #1000, Youngstown, Ohio 44503

  • 10:30 a.m. – Businesses and Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
  • 1 p.m. – Local Government
  • 2:30 p.m. – Nonprofits and Community Organizations
  • 4 p.m. – Ohio Residents 

Note: If you require accessibility accommodations to attend an in-person session, or would like additional information, please contact BroadbandOhio via email at broadbandohio@development.ohio.gov.

How to Get Involved

 

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