Connect Ohio Introduces New Executive Director, Details State Broadband Mapping Initiatives at Quarterly Forum

For Immediate Release 
September 30, 2011 
Contact: Amanda Murphy 
614-214-6755 or amurphy@connectohio.org

Since 2008, Connect Ohio has provided advanced mapping research of Ohio’s broadband infrastructure, including the interactive BroadbandStat tool, for state and federal government agencies 

COLUMBUS – On Friday, September 30 at the Vern Riffe Center in Columbus, Connect Ohio hosted the 2011 third quarter Technology Association Meeting with 51 stakeholders, government representatives, broadband providers, and library and community delegates in attendance. Representatives from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development office and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio were also present.

At the meeting, Tom Fritz, Connected Nation’s vice president of U.S. state and local programs, introduced Connect Ohio’s new executive director Stu Johnson. Johnson has over 20 years of executive level telecommunications experience and joins Connect Ohio after serving as CEO of Network Advantage LLC.

Ashley Littell, Connected Nation GIS services manager, discussed Connect Ohio’s ongoing broadband infrastructure mapping and research project, which consists of compiling information from more than 100 broadband providers in the state and submitting the data to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) semi-annually. The information is also included in the National Broadband Map. Connect Ohio’s broadband availability research is also accessible for use by the public through the interactive online tool BroadbandStat at http://connectohio.org/mapping_and_research/_interactive_map_interface/?q=map.

The meeting also detailed the current status of the groundbreaking Every Citizen Online (ECO) program, a two-year effort to increase sustainable broadband adoption for more than 200,000 state residents by providing free computer training sessions throughout Ohio. Since the program’s launch in late December, 247 locations are offering the ECO program and more than 11,000 Ohio adults have taken advantage of the free basic computer training.

Connect Ohio Technical Outreach Manager Bart Winegar gave attendees an overview of current last-mile assistance projects in Ohio, which include the following 13 counties: Belmont, Carroll, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Jackson, Noble, Monroe, Morgan, Perry, Vinton, and Washington. 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. Representatives from One Community, ComNet, CenturyLink, and Safe-t-net briefly discussed their current broadband expansion projects, as well.

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

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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


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


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

Connect Ohio Provides Broadband Expansion Model to Gallia County Officials

Contact: Amanda Murphy

614-220-0190 or amurphy@connectohio.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 21, 2011

Results from Connect Ohio’s analysis could be used to expand high-speed Internet in Gallia County

COLUMBUS – Connect Ohio staff presented Gallia County officials with information that paves the way for greater broadband access for county residents.

Connect Ohio’s technical outreach team has been working for months and provided a model for broadband expansion that is financially viable and sustainable at a meeting Wednesday in Gallipolis. Gallia County officials in attendance include Harold Montgomery, commissioner, Melissa Clark, economic and community development director, Jake Bodimer, economic and community development assistant director, as well as representatives from JB Nets, a local wireless Internet service provider, and Kinglsey Meyer, CIO of Rio Grande University.

Connect Ohio Technical Outreach Manager Bart Winegar and coordinator Ira Dye presented attendees with the data collection, cost estimates, and propagation studies for the expansion model customized for Gallia County, which can be utilized by an Internet service provider to bring broadband service to unserved and underserved areas.

“We have been waiting for information like this to put together an accurate business plan,” said Stephen Kline of JB Nets.

Gallia County officials have voiced their commitment toward creating a favorable environment for broadband expansion to occur.

“I am very encouraged by the enthusiasm and commitment of Gallia County officials to support broadband expansion and to leverage the propagation and business case analysis,” said Winegar.

JB Nets is utilizing the model presented by Connect Ohio to create a business plan for possible expansion throughout the county. The next step toward making the expansion a reality will be forming agreements with controlling authorities of area towers and infrastructure to enable the placement of broadband connections.

According to Connect Ohio’s 2011 Consumer Technology Assessment for Gallia County, only 42% of households receive broadband service to the home, significantly less than the state average of 66%. Below are additional Gallia County technology figures:

• 67% of Gallia County residents own a computer, which is less than the state average of 80%
• Of the 33% of residents who do not own a computer, 71% claim they do not need a computer, 21% say computers are too complicated, and 20% say computers are too expensive
• 75% of residents access the Internet from home or some other location
• The average monthly cost for home broadband service in Gallia County is $50.83, above the state average of $43.41

Additional Gallia County technology research can be found at http://connectohio.org/_documents/Technology_Assessment_Gallia_County_2011.pdf.

For more information on JB Nets, visit http://jbnets.net.

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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.


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


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

Connect Ohio Applauds Washington County RFP Release and Efforts to Expand Broadband Availability

Contact: Amanda Murphy

614-220-0190 or amurphy@connectohio.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 6, 2011

County Commissioners, with the help of Connect Ohio, have released an RFP for Wireless Internet Service Providers, which would allow for high-speed Internet to reach a majority of county households.

COLUMBUS –Washington County Commissioners, along with assistance from Connect Ohio and Buckeye Hill-Hocking Valley Regional Development District LDD GIS department, has announced the release of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the construction of a wireless broadband network throughout the county.

Commissioners Cora Marshall, Timothy Irvine, and Steven Weber released the proposal as an invitation to Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISP) to expand the access and availability of broadband Internet services to commercial, residential, and publically owned locations in Washington County.

According to the RFP, it was created with the following two objectives:

• Expand broadband throughout Washington County, especially in unserved and underserved areas at or below current market rates
• Expand no charge law enforcement and lower cost first responder data network access throughout Washington County

The RFP also details initiatives undertaken to assist the WISP in the expansion efforts and includes the following:

• Secured access to 10 Multi Agency Radio Communications System Towers (MARCS)
• Access to county-owned vertical assets
• Secured participation by majority of area water authorities with access to 17 water and communication towers
• Customized GIS layers with Dot-On-House information
• Signal distribution analysis and business case model provided by Connect Ohio

The contact person for Washington County’s RFP project is Eric Skomra, county IT director. He can be reached at (740) 374-6623, ext. 301 or eskomra@wcgov.org.

“The Washington County Commissioners recognize the importance of broadband availability for all county citizens, especially those that live in rural areas,” said Bart Winegar, Connect Ohio technical outreach manager. “The Commissioners are doing all they can to attract broadband providers to the unserved areas and this RFP is evidence of their efforts.”

Connect Ohio technical outreach staff had the opportunity to work closely with Washington County officials and Buckeye Hill-Hocking Valley Regional Development District LDD GIS department, completing data collection, cost estimates, and propagation studies. Connect Ohio used the data to provide a customized business model for broadband expansion for the county, which is included in the RFP.

“Bart Winegar and Ira Dye of Connect Ohio have done a phenomenal job taking the data we provided and producing a strong, viable business case for Wireless Broadband delivery in Washington County,” shared Skomra. “I believe any WISP who reviews the detailed data and the analysis provided will be highly compelled to participate in our RFP.”

According to Connect Ohio’s 2008 Consumer Technology Assessment for Washington County, only 37% of households received broadband service to the home, significantly less than the state average at the time, which was 55%.*

Additional Washington County technology statistics can be found on Connect Ohio’s website or by visiting the following link: http://connectohio.org/mapping_and_research/county_profiles/washington/.

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

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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

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

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

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