Governor DeWine, Lt. Governor Husted Announce Broadband Expansion Project in East Cleveland

Press Release

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced a new broadband expansion project located in the City of East Cleveland. The pilot project launched today will connect residents to reliable, low-cost high-speed internet.

"East Cleveland, like many other urban and rural communities, has lacked both the infrastructure and access to low-cost broadband for many residents. This new project plans to provide both the infrastructure and access for up to 2,000 families," said Governor DeWine. "All of the partners in the public-private partnership have come together to bring access to high-speed internet for families throughout East Cleveland."

The broad public-private partnership, spurred by BroadbandOhio, includes Case Western Reserve University, Connect, Cuyahoga County, Eaton Corporation, East Cleveland City Schools, GE Lighting- a Savant company, Greater Cleveland Partnership, InnovateOhio, Microsoft, OARnet, PCs for People, University Hospitals, and the Urban League of Cleveland.

"As soon as I learned that most families in East Cleveland didn't have access to high-speed internet, I told the InnovateOhio team we've got to fix this," said Lt. Governor Husted. "Starting today, more than 1,000 Ohio families, with many more to come, will have the opportunity to access affordable, high-speed internet -- allowing students to do their homework online, parents to work online and families to be better able to participate in the modern economy, education and healthcare systems."

The project will connect more than 1,000 households in its first phase, with plans to scale up access to 2,000 households. East Cleveland households will pay $15 a month for internet speeds of 50 Mbps for download and 10 Mpbs for upload (twice the minimum federal definition of high-speed internet).

"We are excited to be involved in providing low cost, high-speed internet to the East Cleveland community," said Dr. Henry Pettiegrew, Chief Executive and Superintendent at East Cleveland City Schools. "Through this initiative, we are making progress to eliminate the digital divide for our families and community."

The first antenna tower has been activated on the roof of Mayfair Elementary School. Additional tower sites will go live over the course of the coming months to increase service to the areas of the pilot program.

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