For over a decade, Buckeye Hills Regional Council has worked with local, state, and federal partners to address broadband issues. From what was first a primary focus on mapping and infrastructure, Buckeye Hills now views broadband as a holistic issue through the lens of Digital Equity. Digital Equity includes the four pillars of Access, Affordability, Devices, and Digital Skills.
Buckeye Hills works alongside many local and national partners, including the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, BroadbandOhio, Broadband Access Ohio, and numerous local partners and stakeholders.
In 2023, Buckeye Hills Regional Council was recognized as a Digital Inclusion Trailblazer by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance. Digital Inclusion Trailblazers are municipal, county, or regional governments that are paving the way and providing excellent models for digitally inclusive communities. They are intentional, invested, and committed to advancing digital equity. The Trailblazers recognition isn’t just an award — it’s also a collection of valuable resources. The places selected as Trailblazers provide models to aspire to, demonstrating how local governments can support their own digital inclusion ecosystems.
In February 2023, BroadbandOhio selected Buckeye Hills Regional Council as one of five organizations across the state to lead Regional Digital Inclusion Alliances (RDIAs). Buckeye Hills and the other lead organizations will work alongside BroadbandOhio to develop the state’s digital opportunity plan, leveraging their local relationships to ensure the final plan meets the federal requirements of the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program while also meeting the needs of all Ohioans.
Ohio’s plan will serve as a long-term, sustainable roadmap for promoting the meaningful adoption and use of high-speed internet for all Ohioans, with a particular emphasis on low-income individuals; aging populations; veterans; people with disabilities; racial and ethnic minorities; rural residents, and more.
For more information about BroadbandOhio’s digital equity planning process, visit broadband.ohio.gov.
As part of Ohio’s Digital Equity Planning process, BroadbandOhio wants to know what organizations around the state are doing to champion digital inclusion and where they’re doing it. Does your organization offer:
If so, please fill out BroadbandOhio’s Digital Inclusion Asset Mapping Survey. This survey will be used as a resource for Ohio’s Digital Equity Planning process and, ultimately, to build a tool for folks to find key programs, services, and resources in their communities.
For over a decade, Connecting Appalachia has advocated for last-mile broadband deployment in Appalachian Ohio.
For decades, rural broadband expansion has been limited by inaccurate FCC coverage maps that show service where in fact, there is none. Those FCC maps were based solely on unverified statements from internet providers that exaggerated availability. The FCC has promised to develop better maps, but it is unclear when or if those maps will be released.
Connecting Appalachia’s broadband maps – available now – are based on millions of real-world, consumer-initiated speed tests from 500,000 unique locations in the state of Ohio. This data comes from Ookla®, one of the largest independent speed testing companies in the world. Ookla® trademarks are used under license and with permission.
Connecting Appalachia is a consortium of local governments, regional economic development councils, and industry professionals with a single focus: increased economic opportunity for Appalachia by expanding access to quality, affordable broadband. Visit Connecting Appalachia to learn more.
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