WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that it is approving $162.5 million in federal funds for broadband infrastructure and multi-purpose community facility projects in Ohio. This funding is part of the American Rescue Plan’s Capital Projects Fund (CPF), which is designed to help states and territories fund critical capital projects that enable work, education, and health monitoring.
The $77.5 million in broadband infrastructure funding will go toward the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant Program (ORBEG). This program will fund last-mile broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas currently lacking access to reliable, high-speed internet. The funding will connect 15,000 homes and businesses to affordable, high-speed internet.
The $85 million in multi-purpose community facility funding will go toward Ohio’s Appalachian Community Innovation Campuses Program. This program will provide funding to eligible counties within the Appalachian region to construct multi-purpose facilities designed to increase access to education, community health services, and workforce development opportunities. Each campus will provide public education to students across a minimum of six grade levels, health services in partnership with a healthcare provider, and a return-to-work site with internet access.
In accordance with the Treasury Department’s guidance, each state’s plan requires service providers to participate in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) new Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP helps ensure that households can afford high-speed internet by providing a discount of up to $30 per month (or up to $75 per eligible household on Tribal lands).
The Treasury Department began announcing state awards in June 2022. To date, CPF has awarded nearly $8 billion for broadband, digital technology, and multi-purpose community center projects in 47 states. States estimate that the broadband investments will reach over two million locations, in addition to the thousands of individuals who will be served annually by connected multi-purpose community facilities.
In short, this funding will help to close the digital divide in Ohio by providing more people with access to affordable, high-speed internet. It will also help to create jobs and improve the economy in rural areas.
