local leaders announced a $20 million project to increase broadband internet access in the area surrounding U.S. 30<\/a> \u2014 funded by the state\u2019s most recent biennium budget.<\/p>\nThe idea was spurred by Dorey Diab, president of North Central State College, and supported in the Statehouse by Rep. Marilyn John of Shelby.<\/p>\n
Availability of high-speed internet goes beyond residential convenience. The expansion may include a point-of-presence near or on the Ohio National Guard\u2019s 179th Cyberspace Wing in Mansfield.<\/p>\n
The U.S. 30 plan would include a point-of-presence near or on the 179th Cyberspace Wing.<\/p>\n
A point-of-presence (POP) is a point or physical location where two or more networks or communication devices build a connection from one place to the rest of the internet.<\/p>\n
OANG Col. Gregg Hesterman, who headed up the 179th\u2019s conversion from a flying wing, said in 2024 the unit\u2019s new mission requires improved internet access to allow connectivity with mission partners.<\/p>\n
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Ohio Rep. Marilyn John speaks about efforts to boost broadband in rural Ohio.<\/strong> Credit: Katie Ellington Serrao<\/p>\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to require numerous networks,\u201d Hesterman said. \u201cMostly everything will be unclassified, but we\u2019ll also have classified or encrypted networks going through that broadband backbone as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be able to get the most capabilities as close to the installation as possible is absolutely key.\u201d<\/p>\n
A quick connection is also crucial for business recruitment. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in conversations now with other companies that are interested in being in that same area, interested in very large internet connections that need a lot of broadband, a lot of bandwidth and a lot of speed,\u201d Barrett Thomas, head of economic development for the Richland Area Chamber, said in 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201c(The broadband expansion project) will certainly be a tool that helps us say, \u2018This is the right place to be, instead of any of the other 10 places you\u2019re looking. You want to be here in Richland County,\u2019 \u201d Thomas said.<\/p>\n
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Brian Young of Spectrum speaks about the company\u2019s efforts to expand service to rural areas.<\/strong> Credit: Katie Ellington Serrao<\/p>\nJohn said a lack of broadband internet was one of the first things she discussed with constituents after taking office as mayor of Shelby 15 years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the projects we looked at was broadband,\u201d she said. \u201cTalking with some individuals in the county \u2014\u00a0they were still on dial-up. They had families, they had children in school and they had nothing else available to them.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the elected officials here have been to different meetings \u2014 we\u2019ve been to township trustee meetings where residents have shared with us their frustration in not having better internet service in some of the locations around Richland County,\u201d John said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is really a celebration of what we can do when we come together as a team. We work together well \u2014 the mayors, the county commissioners, the economic development entities \u2014 we\u2019re all in the same boat, rowing in the same direction,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have great partnerships here, which is why we\u2019re able to pull off projects like this.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SHELBY \u2014 More than 200 people in northern Richland County could have access to new or improved high-speed…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":165006,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[716,1322,712,95039,95040,158,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-165005","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-internet","8":"tag-broadband","9":"tag-featured","10":"tag-internet","11":"tag-rep-marilyn-john","12":"tag-richland-county-board-of-commissioners","13":"tag-technology","14":"tag-united-states","15":"tag-unitedstates","16":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115069334549474115","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165005","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=165005"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165005\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/165006"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=165005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=165005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=165005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_3673-1024x683.jpg\")
Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero speaks at a ribbon cutting Thursday at Black Fork<\/strong> Commons.<\/strong> Credit: Katie Ellington Serrao<\/p>\n