State officials on Wednesday announced a pilot program that will bring broadband Internet service to 100 customers in
Eventually, the StarLink program could be rolled out more broadly as part of a state initiative to extend broadband Internet access throughout
Unlike traditional broadband Internet, which relies on digging and the physical installation of cables, StarLink operates on low-orbit satellites. That could make it more feasible for rural areas where it’s not easy or cost-effective for companies to lay cable, state officials said.
“We have a lot of hope that this will be that technology solution that will help us leapfrog, but we don’t know yet,” Husted said. “That’s why we were very aggressive with StarLink to test this in
“We’re excited about it, but we’re looking at all types of solutions to solve this problem,” said JP Nauseef, president and CEO of
More than 300,000 households, or about 1 million Ohioans, lack access to basic broadband Internet, according to the state’s BroadbandOhio report. The lack of broadband infrastructure mostly is concentrated in the state’s rural Appalachian region, but there are pockets throughout the state. There is a lack of highest-speed broadband access in some urban areas too, including in East Cleveland In Cuyahoga County, according to state data.
Areas without broadband access are left behind economically, limiting expansion opportunities for business and technological access for everyday residents.
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