Connecting Appalachia

For over a decade Connecting Appalachia has advocated for last-mile broadband deployment in Appalachian Ohio. This consortium of local governments, regional economic development councils, and industry professionals has a single focus: increasing economic opportunity for Appalachia by expanding access to quality, affordable broadband.

In August 2020, with the goal of working toward increased and equitable broadband access for residents across the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio, the Buckeye Hills Foundation, through the Connecting Appalachia project, sought to develop:

1. A report to serve as a regional scorecard on broadband access to make the case for increasing investment in broadband in Appalachian Ohio.

2. A plan for growing awareness with the general public, potential funders, legislators, and government funders about the significant barriers being faced in accessing broadband in Appalachian Ohio.

3. Next steps for use of the report and tools, including a plan for growing support for the issue of broadband among the general public, potential funders, legislators, and agencies about the digital divide in Appalachian Ohio; and next steps to grow support around expanding broadband access.

ConnectingAppalachia.org
In March 2021, BHF worked with Reid Consulting Group and the project partners to launch ConnectingAppalachia.org and companion social media accounts on Twitter (@ConnectAppal) and Facebook (@ConnectingAppalachia). The website serves as the online home of the project.

Common Sense Solutions for Bridging the Digital Divide
In May 2021, ConnectingAppalachia.org’s Common Sense Solutions for Bridging the Digital Divide were presented as part of the 9th Annual Appalachian Ohio State of the Region Conference, in a session featuring BroadbandOhio Chief Peter Voderberg and moderated by Buckeye Hills Regional Council Executive Director Misty Crosby.

The Common Sense Solutions document, enclosed in the Project Related Materials section, outlines three guiding principles for broadband expansion:

1) Invest in robust broadband infrastructure;
2) Encourage competition to spur innovation and protect consumers; and
3) Require accountability and transparency.

Rural Broadband Survey & Speed Test Campaign
The survey and speed test components of ConnectingAppalachia.org launched in June 2021. The survey found that nearly two-thirds of respondents were dissatisfied with their home internet, and three-quarters accessed the internet at speeds slower than the FCC minimum.

To learn more, visit ConnectingAppalachia.org.