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Washington County commissioners took a step forward in expanding broadband internet in the area during Thursday's commission meeting.
Commissioner James Booth said the county received a $30,000 grant from Connect Humanity to help advance broadband in the county. According to their website, Connect Humanity is a nonprofit working to change the lack of internet in areas of the country by providing investments, strategic advice and technical guidance. Booth said earlier this week commissioners met with Connect Humanity and through them were offered the grant and help in mapping internet availability in the county. Connect Humanity helped set them up with Breaking Point Solutions, who are offering their services for free.
"(Breaking Point Solutions) will give us a digital map of the current infrastructure for broadband and what it will take down to the piece of equipment to supply most of Washington County," Booth said.
This means that the county will still have all the grant money to create a broadband action committee, cover its expenses and pay the committee members, he said.
The commissioners voted unanimously to create the committee and appoint David Brown, an internet security specialist, as the head of the committee.
Booth shared a mission statement Brown had written for the meeting.
"The Washington County Broadband (Action) Committee serves as a community connector and facilitator working with citizens, businesses, industries, educational entities, units of government and broadband providers aiding broadband expansion initiatives to increase the visibility, availability, delivery and utilization of broadband services countywide," the statement said.
Commissioner Charlie Schilling said Brown has spent a lot of time and effort helping the county on broadband.
"David Brown's dedication to this county is really unparalleled," he said. "If you think about the impact that (the) Southeast Ohio Broadband Cooperative has had, 400-plus homes ... that's a huge deal and (Brown) wants to continue to see the process be positive for folks in rural areas to get access to broadband."
According to Booth the committee will be made up of Brown, a couple of broadband providers and a public component that Booth will fulfill.
"It's our job as a commissioner that we empower the people that can do it and can speed (broadband) up," Booth said.
Booth said he is not prepared to wait any longer to get broadband expanded in the county. The committee will be able to communicate with sources of funding for broadband and be highly aggressive, he said.
Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentinel.com