Swearingen Supports, House Passes Broadband Expansion Bill

Today, State Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron) voted to support and the House passed House Bill 2, known as the Broadband Expansion bill. The legislation expands 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. Nearly one million Ohioans lack access to reliable high-speed internet service simply because of where they reside.

“It’s exciting to see the bipartisan collaboration within the Ohio House to, once again, get this bill passed in our chamber,” said Swearingen. “Ensuring broadband infrastructure in all parts of our state is critical, perhaps now more than ever, and I’m happy to stand in support of this bill today to deliver dependable, high-speed internet for Ohioans.”

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.

Swearingen announced his cosponsorship of the bill earlier this month and also supported the Broadband Expansion Program bill when it passed in the Ohio House during the previous General Assembly.