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Local, state officials working for broadband

Washington County Commissioners are working on an outside-the-box approach to increase broadband availability here. But they need a little help.

Earlier this month, Commissioner James Booth, county IT Director Donnie Rader, representatives of the county’s grant department and David Brown, with the Southeast Ohio Broadband Cooperative, went to Columbus to meet with BroadbandOhio Chief Peter Voderberg to pitch the new idea.

Rather than hang lines on poles, grooves would be etched in the asphalt on the berm along an approximately 1.9 mile stretch of Stanleyville Road. The fiber would be laid in the asphalt, which according to Booth is approximately 60% the cost of hanging it on a pole, and can be done a mile at a time.

“The pilot project is something new to this area (but it’s) been done in other areas throughout the country,” he said.

This would serve approximately 25 customers initially. But, according to Booth, if it works, the project could be expanded. The catch is getting enough partners on board to fund the pilot, which is expected to cost $160,000 or so. There is $27,000 left over from a Connect Humanity grant. County representatives have also spoken with the Area 15 Council of Governments about more money. And then there was the BroadbandOhio visit, with the hope of getting enough money to fill in the gaps.

“This isn’t the silver bullet that will fix everything,” Booth said. “What it will do is give us another tool in the toolbox to (bring) people broadband.”

Surely those in Columbus can see the importance of supporting a project that is designed to save taxpayer money AND expand broadband internet access to as many people as possible. Local officials are to be commended for doing the work so far. Now let us hope the folks in our state capital make the right move.

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