Broadband4Ohio

In a digital age, rural Ohioans are being left behind.

Almost 40% of rural Americans (around 23 million people) do not have access to broadband in their homes. According to staff of the Joint Economic Committee in a report on America’s Digital Divide, the majority of rural residents do not have access to broadband in 15 states.

We sat down with former mayor of Crooksville, Ohio, Fred Redfern, to discuss the challenges that rural communities face due to lack of broadband access, especially as regards the education system.

When children in small town and rural areas miss out on their right to an education because of lack of broadband, something must be done. We spoke with Casey Coffey, superintendent of New Lexington City Schools about how he has seen education impacted by lack of broadband.

1. Call in or watch our Education & Rural Broadband Town Hall

August 25, Tuesday | 6pm – 7:30pm

Our children have been told they must succeed, but they have been denied one of the tools necessary for success: adequate broadband.

Parents and caregivers are often forced to drive miles to find wifi so that their kids can complete their homework. School districts have needed to send out hotspots on school buses just to get assignments to students. Adults (often with fulltime jobs) cannot take online classes and must instead drive long distances to the nearest college campus.

Join us as we discuss how lack of broadband is impacting education in rural and small town Ohio, and what needs to be done to change it.