That amount is expected to be augmented by some $200 million, much of it federal money, in the next two-year budget currently under debate to help convince internet providers to deploy the "last mile" of broadband that otherwise might not make financial sense to the company.
"Broadband is the great social equalizer of our time," said Rep. Rick Carfagna (R., Westerville), who sponsored the bill with Rep. Brian Stewart (R., Ashville).
"It will bring at long last employment, education, health care, and commerce opportunities presently denied to so many throughout our state," he said. "The bill will not solve the problem for everyone overnight. I freely admit that. But it will enable the extension of broadband infrastructure to many thousands of Ohioans unable to access this critical resource."
The measure passed 91-4 with the entire northwest Ohio delegation in support.
The bill, which the governor is expected to sign, would create the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant Program and a five-member authority to award grants to internet providers to make more feasible the extension of broadband into harder-to-reach residential areas.
This marked the third attempt at passing the bill, but the effort was buoyed this time by real-life experiences during the current coronavirus pandemic in which many employees worked from home, doctors and their patients had to practice telemedicine, and college and K-12 students had to learn remotely.
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The absence of accessible and reliable internet and wireless service in some areas of the state only served to spotlight the digital divide.
The bill would allow competitors to challenge applications for grants if they see them as stepping on their own deployment plans in a specific area.
The House also:
— Voted 94-1 for Senate Bill 108, sponsored by Sens. Stephen Huffman (R., Tipp City) and Mark Romanchuk (R., Mansfield), that will earmark $125 million in federal coronavirus aid over each of the next two years to help struggling bars, restaurants, and the lodging industry. The Senate then unanimously approved minor House amendments and forwarded the bill on for the governor's signature.
— Voted 93-2 for Senate Bill 109, sponsored by Sens. Nathan Manning (R., North Ridgeville) and Michael Rulli (R., Salem), to provide $556.9 million in federal coronavirus aid for businesses, child care providers, foodbanks, local fairs, support for the state's overtasked unemployment compensation system, the foster care system, Ohio Veterans Homes, and others. The House roughly doubled the size of the package. The Senate voted 30-2 to send it on to the governor.
© 2021 The Blade (Toledo, Ohio). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
