Ohioans Without Broadband May be Eligible for Satellite Service Through Federally Funded Program

Ohioans Without Broadband May be Eligible for Satellite Service Through Federally Funded Program

Contact: Amanda Murphy
614-220-0190 or amurphy@connectohio.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2011


Households currently without Internet access may be eligible for discounted satellite services from HughesNet

COLUMBUS – In August 2010, $100 million was awarded to 4 satellite service companies throughout the country to fund equipment, installation, and activation of services to rural homes and businesses not served by traditional broadband providers. The funds were made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) through the Rural Utilities Service (RUS).

Hughes Network Systems is offering the service for rural Ohio areas. The company was awarded $58 million of the grant for nationwide satellite services and is expected to connect over 258,000 people and 3,200 businesses.

For qualifying addresses, the grant will fund satellite equipment, installation, and activation of services at no cost to the consumer and the monthly cost of satellite services must be economically feasible - $50 or less for at least one year.

According to a press release from the company, eligible households can choose from three HughesNet service plans with no installation or equipment charges. Because the initiative is designed to help bring broadband access to households that do not have it, Recovery Act Funds are only available to new customers. Households that currently have – or have access to – high-speed Internet service are not eligible.

The services may not be available in locations where other broadband service installations are planned for the near future and the offer will expire once the funds are depleted.

To see if your home or business address qualifies for this program, go to http://hughesnet.com/ and click on For Your Residence, or call HughesNet at 1-866-928-7479.

To view whether traditional providers service your area and who those providers are, visit Connect Ohio’s BroadbandStat, an online interactive map. Go to http://connectohio.org/mapping_and_research/interactive_map.php and click on the map graphic in the middle of the screen.

# # #

About Connect Ohio: Connect Ohio, a division of Connected Nation, is a nonprofit, technology-neutral public-private partnership that works with telecommunications providers, business and community leaders, information technology companies, researchers, public agencies, libraries and universities in an effort to help extend affordable high-speed Internet service to every Ohio household. For more information about what Connect Ohio is doing to accelerate technology in Ohio's communities, visit http://www.connectohio.org

Related Links: Connect Ohio on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ConnectOhio

Connect Ohio on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ConnectOH


# # #

Technical Association Quarterly Meeting Discusses Statewide Broadband Adoption and Last-Mile Broadband Expansion Projects

For Immediate Release

March 25, 2011

Contact: Amanda Murphy

614-220-0190 or amurphy@connectohio.org

Statewide programs continue to improve broadband access, will provide more than 200,000 Ohioans with free computer training

COLUMBUS – On Friday, March 25 at the Vern Riffe Center in Columbus, Connect Ohio hosted the 2011 first quarter Technology Association Meeting with 67 stakeholders, broadband providers, and library and community representatives. Representatives from government offices in attendance included the office of State Senator Joe Schiavoni of the 63^rd Senate District, the office of State Representative Matt Huffman of the 4^th House District, as well as United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director Tony Logan and USDA Rural Development Community Programs Director David Douglas.

The meeting detailed the early success of the Every Citizen Online program, a two-year effort to increase sustainable broadband adoption for more than 200,000 state residents by providing free computer training sessions at public libraries and community colleges throughout Ohio. The program began in late December 2010. Thus far, nearly 1,500 Ohio adults have completed the free basic computer training, more than 4,600 have registered for the training through the online site http://eco.connectohio.org/, and 1,853 computers have been distributed.

"The Every Citizen Online project has been well-received in communities throughout the state," said Connect Ohio Executive Director Tom Fritz. “We’ve seen early success since the initial launch and continue to add training locations regularly, advancing the program’s reach.”

Connect Ohio Technical Outreach Manager Bart Winegar gave attendees an overview of current last-mile assistance projects in Ohio. The last-mile projects offer assistance to Ohio communities that lack access to broadband by identifying, researching, and mapping unserved areas and interacting with local planning teams to determine the best practices to increase broadband capacity in that area. Winegar presented details of a broadband expansion model created by Connect Ohio that can be used to determine financial viability and sustainability of expansion into Ohio communities.

Fritz also recognized Matthew Pepper of Chesterhill with a Broadband Hero award for his hard work and dedication toward expanding affordable broadband and high-speed Internet access to residents of Morgan County. Details of Pepper’s volunteer efforts can be viewed at http://connectoh.org/in_the_news/broadband_heroes/.

# # #

About Connect Ohio: Connect Ohio, a division of Connected Nation, is a nonprofit, technology-neutral public-private partnership that works with telecommunications providers, business and community leaders, information technology companies, researchers, public agencies, libraries, and universities in an effort to help extend affordable high-speed Internet service to every Ohio household. For more information about what Connect Ohio is doing to accelerate technology in Ohio's communities, visit http://www.connectohio.org.

Related Links: Connect Ohio on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ConnectOhio

Connect Ohio on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ConnectOH

# # #

Connect Ohio Technical Outreach Team Provides Broadband Expansion Model to Morgan County Officials

Connect Ohio Technical Outreach Team Provides Broadband Expansion Model to Morgan County Officials

Contact: Amanda Murphy

614-220-0190 or amurphy@connectohio.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 17, 2011

Connect Ohio’s model would allow high-speed Internet to reach a majority of Morgan County households.

COLUMBUS – Connect Ohio technical outreach staff presented Morgan County officials with a financially viable and sustainable broadband expansion model in a meeting Wednesday, March 16, at the Morgan County Extension Agent in McConnelsville, Ohio.

Following months of data collection, cost estimation, and propagation studies by Connect Ohio technical outreach manager Bart Winegar, coordinator Ira Dye, and Matthew Pepper of Chesterhill municipal wireless Internet service provider, the model was presented to Morgan County officials for review. The model leverages efforts from local eCommunity Strategy planning that began in 2009 with the assistance of Connect Ohio. Many local leaders participated in these early meetings and provided valuable input.

“This presentation was the culmination of a lot of work,” said Winegar. “I’m encouraged that county commissioners and economic development staff were present and agreed to take time to review the model.”

According to Connect Ohio’s 2008 Consumer Technology Assessment for Morgan County, only 25% of households received broadband service to the home, significantly less than the state average at the time, which was 55%.*

“This is positive for the area and the residents of Morgan County,” said Pepper. “(Broadband) adoption is not the issue. Availability is the issue.”

In a few weeks, the group will reconvene to discuss the next steps needed to make the model a reality.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to provide a service to so many unserved households,” said Shannon Wells, director of the Morgan County Development Office.

Those in attendance for Wednesday’s meeting included:

Dean Cain, Morgan County commissioner

Steve Hook, Morgan County engineer

Bo Powell, Morgan County Engineer’s Office

Matthew Pepper, Chesterhill municipal wireless Internet service provider

Shannon Wells, director of the Morgan County Development Office

Ira Dye, technical outreach coordinator at Connect Ohio

Tom Fritz, executive director at Connect Ohio

Bart Winegar, technical outreach manager at Connect Ohio

Chip Spann, director of engineering & technical services at Connected Nation

Morgan County libraries and learning centers have also partnered with Connect Ohio to provide Every Citizen Online basic computer and Internet training to adults. The training will introduce new users to a wide range of communication, education, and healthcare tools available online. Interested adults throughout Ohio are eligible to participate in the program, which is being provided locally at the following locations:

-Morgan County Learning Center, located at 4277 N. State Route 376 NW, McConnelsville, (740) 962-2079

-Kate Love Simpson-Morgan County Library, Main Branch, located at 358 E. Main Street, McConnelsville, (740) 962-2533

-Kate Love Simpson-Morgan County Library Chesterhill Branch, located at 7520 Marion Street, Chesterhill, (740) 554-7104

For questions regarding the Every Citizen Online program, contact Amanda Murphy at amurphy@connectohio.org.

*A 2011 Residential Technology Assessment for each county will be available later this year.

# # #

About Connect Ohio: Connect Ohio, a division of Connected Nation, is a nonprofit, technology-neutral public-private partnership that works with telecommunications providers, business and community leaders, information technology companies, researchers, public agencies, libraries and universities in an effort to help extend affordable high-speed Internet service to every Ohio household. For more information about what Connect Ohio is doing to accelerate technology in Ohio's communities, visit http://www.connectohio.org

Related Links: Connect Ohio on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ConnectOhio

Connect Ohio on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ConnectOH

# # #

Frontier Communications to Provide Connect Ohio’s Every Citizen Online Graduates with Netbooks

Contact: Amanda Murphy
614-220-0190 or amurphy@connectohio.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2011

To aid broadband adoption throughout Ohio, Frontier will offer a computer to adults completing the free Internet training

COLUMBUS – Connect Ohio is pleased to announce Frontier Communications’ support of the Every Citizen Online program. The program offers free computer and broadband training to adult Ohioans with a goal to train more than 200,000 state residents. Frontier Communications announced March 2 a commitment to provide netbooks to graduates of the Every Citizen Online program who sign up for Frontier’s high-speed Internet service with price protection plan. The commitment also includes on-site installation of Frontier’s Internet service by a trained technician.

“We want to partner with Connect Ohio on our mutual goal of helping Ohioans have access to, and adopt, broadband service,” said Dave Davidson, senior vice president and general manager for Frontier’s Ohio operations. “After an individual completes the training, we want to ensure that they have a computer at home to access all the Internet has to offer.”

The Every Citizen Online free computer training sessions are provided to introduce new users to a wide range of communication, education, and healthcare tools available online. Interested adults are eligible to participate in the program, which is geared toward first-time computer and broadband users.

Classes began in January 2011 at more than 100 libraries and community colleges throughout Ohio and will continue for two years. A complete list of participating locations with contact information can be found at http://connectohio.org/consumer_training or by calling 1-855-NOW-I-CAN (669-4226).

"Frontier's willingness to make this exclusive offer to first-time users who complete the program provides a valuable incentive for newly trained users," said Tom Fritz, executive director of Connect Ohio. "The ECO program provides six hours of free training for any adult who has no experience using broadband technology, and is funded through a federal grant, local libraries, and other sources."

More information on the Every Citizen Online program can be found at http://connectohio.org/consumer_training/.

View Connect Ohio’s Every Citizen Online televised public service announcements: http://connectohio.org/consumer_training/media.php.

# # #

About Connect Ohio

Connect Ohio, a division of Connected Nation, is a nonprofit, technology-neutral public-private partnership that works with telecommunications providers, business and community leaders, information technology companies, researchers, public agencies, libraries and universities in an effort to help extend affordable high-speed Internet service to every Ohio household. For more information about what Connect Ohio is doing to accelerate technology in Ohio's communities, visit http://www.connectohio.org

Related Links: Connect Ohio on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ConnectOhio

Connect Ohio on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ConnectOH

About Frontier Communications

Frontier Communications Corporation (NYSE: FTR) is a Fortune 500 company included in the S&P 500 Index offering voice, high-speed Internet, satellite video, wireless Internet data access, data security solutions, bundled offerings, specialized bundles for small businesses and home offices, and advanced business communications access solutions for medium and large businesses in 27 states and with approximately 14,800 employees. It has a 100 percent U.S.-based workforce. More information is available at www.frontier.com and www.frontier.com/ir.

# # #