Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant Address Search Tool (Click Here)

It is a priority of the DeWine-Husted Administration to connect Ohio households to essential broadband services, especially high-speed internet. There are many areas in this state where families do not have access to reliable high-speed internet.

House Bill 2 of the 134th General Assembly, which creates the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant Program (the Program), was signed into law by Governor DeWine on May 17, 2021.

The program awards grants to internet service providers to fund the construction of broadband projects in unserved and underserved areas of the state. The program is administered by BroadbandOhio, a division of the Ohio Department of Development.

Grants are provided to internet service providers to help with the cost of expanding into unserved and underserved areas of Ohio. The grants are designed to help with the infrastructure costs of the project and help build the networks in areas that a lack high-speed internet. The grants will cover the “broadband funding gap,” which is the difference between the total amount of money a broadband provider calculates is necessary to construct the last mile of a specific broadband network and the total amount of money that the provider has determined is the maximum amount of money that is cost effective for the provider to invest in last mile construction for that network.

Eligible projects should provide service access of at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to residences in areas that do not have a provider that can supply that speed. Areas that have less than 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload are considered unserved, areas that have between 10 Mbps and 25 Mbps download and 1 Mbps and 3 Mbps upload are considered tier one areas.

Additionally, House Bill 2 creates the Broadband Expansion Program Authority within Development to receive and review applications from providers, and ultimately award these grants.

The Authority includes five members:

• Development Director or designee.
• Director of the Office of InnovateOhio or designee.
• One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
• One member appointed by the President of the Senate.
• One member appointed by the Governor.

1. HB2 Legislation
2. Rules
3. Executive Order

ORBEG Address Search Tool

BroadbandOhio has created a new ORBEG Address Search Tool as a resource for Ohioans to see if an internet provider has been awarded grant funding for a specific address. Where possible, the internet service provider for the area has been listed for you to contact if you are seeking internet service at that address.

If you have questions or want to provide additional information regarding internet service at a specific address, please email broadbandohio@development.ohio.gov.

2022 Awards

Applications are now closed.

• ORBEG Round 1 Awarded Addresses
• ORBEG Round 1 Two Year Challenged Addresses
• Awarded Applications Spreadsheet
• 2 Year Commitment List
• Final Score Spreadsheet
• Application Status Document
• View applications here (PDF)
• Grants Announcement of Proposed Service Area Addresses Website (XLSX)

2022 Application Process

• Guidebook (PDF)
• Application (PDF)
• Scoring Criteria (PDF)
• Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
• TA Session Presentation (PDF)
• Webinar Video
• Railroad Association Information (PDF)

2022 Challenge Process

• Program Challenge Process (PDF)
• Program Challenge Instructions and Form (PDF)
• Challenge Process Webinar
• Challenge Process Presentation (PDF)
• Challenge Process FAQ (PDF)
• Instructions and Next Steps for Suspended Applications (PDF)
• Signed Challenge Recommendations (PDF)
• March 16, 2022 Authority Meeting Final Challenge Rulings

2022 County Resolutions

• Broadband County Request for Providers (PDF)
• Brown County Resolution (PDF)
• Columbiana County Resolution (PDF)
• Darke County Resolution (PDF)
• Defiance County Resolution (PDF)
• Fairfield County Resolution (PDF)
• Franklin County Resolution (PDF)
• Greene County Resolution (PDF)
• Highland County Resolution (PDF)
• Knox County Resolution (PDF)
• Paulding County Resolution (PDF)
• Richland County Resolution (PDF)
• Ross County Resolution (PDF)
• Shelby County Resolution (PDF)
• Trumbull County Resolution (PDF)
• Wayne County Resolution (PDF)
• Van Wert County Resolution (PDF)