Swearingen Cosponsors Broadband Expansion Legislation

State Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron) announces the introduction and his co-sponsorship of House Bill 2, which would expand broadband access across the state with the creation of Ohio’s first Residential Broadband Expansion Program.

The bill provides grants to offset construction costs and facilitates the expansion of high-speed internet and broadband services to unserved households throughout Ohio.

“This legislation is an innovative step in the right direction to allow everyone across Ohio to have efficient broadband access,” said Swearingen. “With around one million Ohioans without dependent high-speed internet, this bill takes the initiative to work with state and broadband providers to offer a solution to this long-standing issue – it’s time we get this bill over the finish line for Ohioans to benefit from both educational and professional standpoints.”

House Bill 2 targets the issue of last mile connectivity to households where it remains cost-prohibitive for private providers to otherwise extend their service.  Additionally, the legislation contains critical industry reforms designed to drive increased private investment of broadband infrastructure in unserved areas. The industry reforms represent the culmination of good-faith meetings between legislators, internet service providers and Ohio’s Rural Electric Cooperatives.

The bipartisan legislation currently has nearly 30 cosponsors and has been introduced by State Reps. Rick Carfagna and Brian Stewart. The bill had its first hearing on Feb. 9 and had 14 proponents speak to it within the House Finance Committee meeting.

Swearingen also supported the Broadband Expansion Program bill when it passed in the Ohio House during the previous General Assembly.