BroadbandOhio has selected Buckeye Hills Regional Council as one of five organizations across the state to lead Regional Digital Inclusion Alliances (RDIAs) that will champion digital opportunity at the grassroots level.
BroadbandOhio, a division of the Ohio Department of Development, announced the initiative as a key component in its effort to develop a statewide digital opportunity plan during its Digital Opportunity Summit on February 16 in Columbus.
“You can’t be part of the modern economy, education, or healthcare systems without access to broadband,” said Lt. Governor Jon Husted. “We are working diligently through BroadbandOhio and with our partners to bridge the divide so that every Ohioan has access to reliable, high-speed internet.”
Buckeye Hills and the other lead organizations will work alongside BroadbandOhio in developing the state’s digital opportunity plan, leveraging their local relationships to ensure the final plan meets federal requirements of the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program while also meeting the needs of all Ohioans.
The following regional lead organizations were chosen through a competitive selection process:
- Northwest – Toledo Lucas County Public Library
- Northeast – Cleveland Foundation
- Central – Smart Columbus
- Southeast – Buckeye Hills Regional Council
- Southwest – United Way of Greater Cincinnati
“The great work these organizations are doing to advance digital opportunity at the local level today will undoubtedly play a vital role in creating programs that improve the lives of every Ohioan tomorrow,” said Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Department of Development.
“We are incredibly excited to partner with Broadband Ohio, the Ohio Department of Development, and the other regional leads to create a State Digital Equity Plan that serves all Ohioans and to further efforts in bridging the digital divide,” said Chasity Schmelzenbach, Executive Director of Buckeye Hills Regional Council.
“We are honored and humbled for Buckeye Hills Regional Council to be chosen as the Southeast regional lead for Ohio’s State Digital Inclusion Planning,” said Ryan Collins, Program Manager at Buckeye Hills Regional Council. “It is our hope that we can continue to build upon and utilize our track record as a leading voice for digital equity in rural communities, not only within our region but also statewide and nationally, throughout this process.”
Leads for each RDIA will host regional forums across the state to gain a better understanding of the connectivity-based challenges community leaders and Ohioans are facing at the local level. Feedback from these forums will be used to support activities around the availability and affordability of high-speed internet, online accessibility of public resources and services, digital literacy, online privacy, and technical support.
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.
Co-sponsored by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), the Digital Opportunity Summit convened nearly 250 local, state, and national industry experts inside the Columbus Metropolitan Library to share best practices, highlight emerging trends, and learn more about how state leaders are working to ensure every Ohioan has access to high-speed internet.
The event also featured several informative panel discussions, as well as presentations from representatives of leaders in the industry, such as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Public Health Innovators, LLC, and the NDIA.
“Ohio is a leader in the field of digital equity and broadband,” said Angela Siefer, Executive Director of the NDIA, who served as the keynote speaker for the February 16 event. “Ohio is a leader, not only at the state level but in community-led innovation connecting our neighbors. It’s really exciting.”
For more information about BroadbandOhio’s digital equity planning process, visit broadband.ohio.gov.