Cuyahoga County and the state of Ohio are trying to sign up 25,000 people for internet service in the county鈥檚 least-connected neighborhoods.
The state and county are splitting the cost of a $19.4 million contract with the Minnesota-based nonprofit PCs for People to offer the $15-per-month service.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, a Republican, joined Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish, Council President Pernel Jones and other local Democratic officials at the Brooklyn branch of the county library system Wednesday for a news conference touting the new investment.
Meager internet access is a problem in both rural and urban parts of Ohio, the lieutenant governor said.
鈥淲hy does it matter that we expand broadband to people?鈥� Husted said. 鈥淏ecause you can鈥檛 participate in the modern economy, healthcare or education system without it. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 so important.鈥�
An estimated 98,000 households 鈥� almost 18% of Cuyahoga County 鈥� have no internet subscription, . Another 10% connect to the internet only through a phone data plan.
The first phase will set up connections in Brooklyn, Bedford, East Cleveland, Parma, Warrensville Heights and parts of Cleveland by January 2023, Budish said. There is no income limit for potential customers who live in Census tracts where the service will be available, PCs for People CEO Casey Sorensen said.
鈥淲e targeted the lowest-income neighborhoods and the least-connected neighborhoods across the county, and we want to impact them no matter what the income level of the people in those areas are,鈥� Sorensen said. 鈥淪o everyone will be able to sign up for the $15 a month home internet.鈥�
While the service itself is not free, low-income families can to pay the monthly fee.
Cuyahoga County Council originally slated almost $20 million for the contract from its American Rescue Plan Act allocation. The state鈥檚 decision to cover half the tab will release around $10 million in the county鈥檚 federal funds for other purposes.
Cleveland has also set aside $20 million from its share of ARPA to expand broadband access. Earlier this month, from companies interested in providing low-cost service.
