Plain Dealer - Strickland wants to close Ohio's digital gap

(Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Ted Strickland wants to close Ohio digital gap

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland proposed Monday to connect Ohio's poorest communities to the Internet by increasing use of existing high-speed fiber-optic lines that crisscross the state but remain largely "dark," or unused.

His proposal, dubbed the "Ohio NextGen Network," would increase access to the high-speed Internet network owned by Ohio's research universities, which use only a small fraction of the network's capacity to transmit information.

"We need to take steps to close Ohio's digital divide by supporting community efforts to bring the benefits of broadband to low- and moderate-income Ohioans," Strickland said at Cleveland news conference.

Strickland said the state would have to spend about $50 million to extend the network and create access to it in counties that lack what are often referred to as "on-ramps" to the network. He proposed selling bonds through Ohio's high-tech Third Frontier initiative to pay for the program.

Strickland said extending the state's network would allow private Internet carriers to piggyback on the state's infrastructure, making it cheaper for them to provide service in areas that are not profitable.

To eventually reach rural customers, Strickland proposed making available another $50 million -- also generated through the sale of bonds -- to telecommunication companies and other entities willing to connect to remote areas he referred to as the "last mile."

Strickland's proposal includes creating a new state agency to coordinate the purchase of high-speed access by its myriad offices and departments.

By renegotiating the purchase price of Internet access from private companies, Strickland projects the state will save $20 million to $40 million over the next four years. And by linking to the expanded state network, local governments and Ohio's court system, which is trying to create its own Internet system, could collectively save up to $60 million over the next five years.

The idea of expanding the university Internet network is not new. State leaders have talked about it for several years.

In January, Ken Blackwell, a Republican candidate for governor, also proposed expanding the state's high-speed Internet network.

His proposal would use some of the money the state could receive by leasing the Ohio Turnpike.

Both Strickland and Blackwell say expanding the network will improve the state's job growth.

In a statement, Blackwell criticized Strickland's proposal as "another big government promise that can't be kept and will simply add pressure to increase Ohioans' taxes."

The Republican Party also attacked the proposal.

In a statement, the party said the plan is part of an effort to bring "private sector initiatives under the control of state government."

Telecommunications companies have bristled when governments have moved toward creating their own networks or offering free access to the Internet.

But Strickland said his proposal does neither. He said it offers incentive to companies to expand service.

"In those parts of the market in which the state continues to regulate, a Strickland administration will be as fair, technology-neutral, nimble and flexible as possible," he pledged.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

mnaymik@plaind.com, 216-999-4849