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哥伦布、匹兹堡及各地消息
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Governor DeWine, Lt. Governor
Husted Announce Support for Citywide Broadband Expansion in
Cleveland Broadband Ohio to Support Launch of Citywide Broadband
Network with $10 Million Grant
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(CLEVELAND, Ohio)—Ohio
Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted joined Cleveland
Mayor Justin M. Bibb, Cleveland City Council President Blaine
Griffin, and DigitalC CEO Joshua Edmonds this afternoon to announce
an historic investment in a large-scale broadband expansion project
to make high-speed, dependable internet more accessible and
affordable for the entire city of Cleveland.
Connecting Cleveland
The Ohio Department of Development's BroadbandOhio is partnering
with the city of Cleveland and Cleveland-based nonprofit DigitalC to
create a broadband network that will offer high-speed, low-cost
internet service across Cleveland, which was identified as the
worst-connected large city in 2019 by the National Digital Inclusion
Alliance.
"In a world where the internet has become nearly as essential as
electricity, we know how important it is that our citizens are
connected,” said Governor DeWine. “We are committed to closing the
digital divide in Ohio – not just in rural parts of the state, but
also right here in urban centers like Cleveland where affordability
can be more of an obstacle than access.”
BroadbandOhio is supplying $10 million in grant funding for the
project, while the city of Cleveland is providing up to $20 million
in financial support. Contributions from the Jack, Joseph, and
Morton Mandel Supporting Foundation, the David and Inez Myers
Foundation, and other sources will also aid the project, which has
an estimated total cost of $53 million.
“If we want all Ohioans to participate in the modern economy,
education, and healthcare systems, then we need to make sure that
they have access to affordable, high-speed Internet,” said Lt.
Governor Husted. “While many underserved communities are in rural
Ohio, Cleveland is an example of an underserved urban community.
Through this investment, we hope to improve lives by connecting
people to important services and opportunities.”
DigitalC plans to officially break ground on the citywide broadband
expansion project this month and is aiming for the entirety of
Cleveland's 170,000 households to have access to low-cost broadband
by the middle of next year. The price to access the network will be
locked in at just $18 per month for at least 10 years, only allowing
for changes due to inflation after the fifth year.
“We all know high-speed internet is simply a requirement to live,
work, and play in the world today. This incredible investment and
partnership from the State will help us accomplish our vision of
ensuring every single Clevelander will have access to an affordable,
powerful internet plan. It doesn’t matter what neighborhood you are
in or how much money you make – if you live in Cleveland, you will
be able to use this necessary utility for only $18 per month,” said
Mayor Bibb. “That’s $216 per year – a perfect fit synonymous to the
area code of Clevelanders.”
"Investing in the infrastructure that connects our communities is an
investment in the hopes and dreams of every Cleveland resident,"
said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development.
"This funding will play a pivotal role in making high-speed internet
accessible to all, fostering inclusivity and providing more
opportunities for growth in this great city."
In addition to providing low-cost internet service, DigitalC will
also work to encourage Cleveland residents to adopt and use
broadband by offering basic coaching and digital literacy training.
"This landmark investment underscores Ohio’s unwavering dedication
to ensure every resident has access to fully participate in the
digital world without barriers," said Edmonds. "We are deeply
appreciative of this transformative grant from BroadbandOhio; this
support, in conjunction with trailblazing contributions from a
coalition of public, private, and philanthropic partners, will
propel this state-of-the-art citywide network forward and ensure an
equitable digital future for our city."
Since its inception in 2015, DigitalC has connected more than 2,000
Cleveland households to broadband internet, including the homes of
more than 900 students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School
District.
This project builds on the DeWine-Husted Administration’s efforts to
expand and enhance broadband connectivity for families across
northeast Ohio. Since BroadbandOhio was established more than three
years ago, the state has dedicated $245 million to connecting more
than 135,000 homes to reliable and affordable high-speed internet.
This funding includes nearly $10 million in grants awarded in July
2022 to help nonprofit PCs for People expand internet access to
roughly 25,000 Cuyahoga County households. The project provided
internet to these communities for $15 a month and, in some cases,
free of charge.
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