Ending the digital divide

The issue of high-speed broadband access has been a concern in Lawrence County (OH) and rural parts of the nation for some time and, with the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for connectivity has only become more apparent. Gov Mike DeWine (R-OH) said he envisions that when Ohio schools resume in fall 2020, they will be utilizing a hybrid system of in-person and remote learning. Symmes Valley Superintendent Darrell Humphreys said the move to remote learning is difficult for his district, where reliable broadband service is nearly non-existent. Humphreys estimates that only 15 percent of the district’s students have fast Internet service at home, capable of streaming class lessons, that would be conducive to remote learning via computer. 

Rep Bill Johnson (R-OH), who district covers rural counties along the Ohio River, said significant federal funds were approved for rural broadband, which were “set to be rolled out next year.” “I’m encouraging the FCC chair to expedite that,” he said. “And we don’t want to stop there.” Rep Johnson said mapping remains a major hurdle, and said many providers have not given accurate information to the FCC in mapping. “We don’t need a map to know which areas are served and underserved,” he said, stating members can find out the severity of the need from talking to local officials. “Mayors, township trustees, they can tell you where the difficulties are,” he said.

Tom Reid, president of Reid Consulting Group, has been working with the Buckeye Hills Regional Council on the issue of broadband in the Appalachian southeast Ohio, concentrating on 32 Appalachian counties and five rural ones. He pulls up the FCC’s maps for Lawrence County and, despite Humphreys’ issues for Symmes Valley students, the map shows Kitts Hill, as well as other rural areas like Getaway are covered. Reid said efforts have been made to improve the situation, with the Broadband DATA Act, moving mapping from a census block model to a location-based model, but he said the issue would remain “if the FCC continues to just believe what carriers say.”