Connect Ohio Provides Broadband Expansion Model to Perry County Officials

Contact: Amanda Murphy

614-220-0190 or amurphy@connectohio.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 21, 2011

Results from Connect Ohio’s analysis may be used to expand high-speed Internet and improve EMA, 911 communications in Perry County

COLUMBUS – Connect Ohio staff presented Perry County officials with information that paves the way for greater broadband access and emergency communication for the area.

Connect Ohio’s technical outreach team presented results of a broadband expansion study that may be combined with a local initiative to improve Perry County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and 911 communication systems at a meeting Thursday in New Lexington. The meeting was led by Brent Runge, Perry County 911 program manager, and was attended by the Perry County commissioners, Perry County Sheriff’s Office and local fire personnel, Ohio Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS) personnel, representatives from Perry County Job and Family Services, State Representative Bill Hayes of Ohio’s 91st House District, and representatives from the offices of Congressman Steve Austria, Ohio’s 7th District, Ohio Senator Rob Portman, and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown.

Connect Ohio Technical Outreach Manager Bart Winegar and coordinator Ira Dye presented attendees with the data collection, cost estimates, and propagation studies for the broadband expansion model customized for the county. The broadband study is part of a larger plan that will result in enhanced first responder services and high-speed Internet for Perry County.

“Perry County has assembled a strong team with first-hand experience and the ability to get things done,” said Winegar. “Today, state and federal representatives were able to experience presentations that demonstrated the needs of Perry County citizens and an excellent plan to address those needs.”

The next step is to complete funding efforts that are already underway for this Perry County project.

According to Connect Ohio’s 2011 Consumer Technology Assessment for Perry County, 64% of households receive broadband service to the home, less than the state average of 66%. Below is additional Perry County technology figures:

• 81% of Perry County residents own a computer, slightly above the state average of 80%
• Of the 19% of residents who do not own a computer, 64% claim they do not need a computer and 24% say computers are too complicated
• 80% of residents access the Internet from home or some other location
• The average monthly cost for home broadband service in Perry County is $36.82, below the state average of $43.41

Additional Perry County technology research can be found at
http://connectohio.org/_documents/Technology_Assessment_Perry_County_2011.pdf.

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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


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