More Jobs Coming for 18th Congressional District

  • By Curtis Robert Tyree
  • August 18, 2010
  • 299
                        
On Wednesday August 18, U.S. Representative Zack Space made a major announcement concerning the future of the 18th Congressional District. He announced tens of millions of dollars in funding for broadband internet access for Appalachian Ohio, which includes Tuscarawas county and large portions of the 18th Congressional District. “This was a day that in 30, 40, or 50 years from now we will look back on as the day that Appalachia turned around,” commented Rep. Space. “This was a transformational day.” The Connecting Appalachia Broadband Project received approximately 66.5 million dollars in funds from the American Recovery Act, along with another 28.5 million dollars matched by various companies and organizations, including the Ohio Academic Resources Network (OAR Net) and Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association (OMEGA), the largest amount of the matched funds came from , mainly Horizon Telecommunications of Chillicothe. In total, the more than 94 million dollars in funding will ensure that those living and working in Appalachia will have access to technology and information, closing the technological and educational gap between Appalachia and the country at large. “Currently in Ohio’s Appalachian counties, a 34 county area, approximately 125,000 homes do not have access to the internet, with an additional approximately 500,000 homes having limited, inferior access, such as dial-up,” said Rep. Space. “Along with increasing broadband access, a valuable asset for homes and businesses, this funding and expanding of the infrastructure will around 700 jobs to the district at a vital economic period. “With so many colleges and universities offering the opportunity of attending courses online, this expansion of broadband will allow more people to attain higher education and help their families and the economy at the same time. The expansion of broadband will also help technology parks, like the one in New Philadelphia attract companies, and help the other 33 similar tech parks in the district.” The majority of the funding, 66.5 million dollars came from un-used funds in the “Stimulus Bill,” the American Recovery Act of 2009. Through a competitive bidding process, the Connecting Appalachia Broadband Project was chosen to receive funds. The goal of the “Stimulus Bill” was to provide capital for projects that would put American people back into work; the broadband expansion will add approximately 700 jobs to the district. Much of the lines to be laid as part of this expansion will be fiber-optic lines. These are bundles of thin, glass lines that carry information via light, being able to send information at the speed of light, which can circle the earth 13 times per second. Fiber-optic lines can not only carry information faster than cable or telephone lines, but can carry more information. Branching off of these fiber-optic lines will be traditional cable and wireless internet connectivity opportunities. “This project is a great example of both Business and Government working together. Thousands of miles of fiber-optic cable will be laid, which will put people to work and make this area more appealing to potential businesses. If an area doesn’t have the capacity for high-speed internet, businesses won’t come,” said Space. “It will make the area more competitive nationally and increase the standard of living, along with reducing the cost of internet access through increased capacity and competition. This broadband expansion is a giant leap forward for Appalachia.”


Loading next article...

End of content

No more pages to load