Broadband Expansion Legislation Passes Ohio House

COLUMBUS – The Ohio House of Representatives today passed House Bill 2 with a sweeping vote of 91-5, announced State Representative Tom Young (R-Washington Township).

This bipartisan bill is a priority piece of legislation that helps expand broadband access to unreached communities across Ohio.

“Reliable internet connection is something every Ohioan should have the right to,” said Young. “While this issue was present long before the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been exacerbated under the current circumstances. As the majority of our students and workforce are continuing to learn and work remotely, we must provide them the necessary resources to do so successfully.”  

Nearly one million Ohioans lack a reliable internet connection and about 300,000 households have no broadband options whatsoever.

House Bill 2 creates Ohio’s first ever Residential Broadband Expansion Program. Through this program, broadband providers are given a pathway to apply for grants intended to offset construction cost hurdles and facilitate the expansion of high-speed internet and all broadband services to unserved householders across Ohio.

The measure now heads to the Senate for consideration.