BROADBAND...

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides eligible households $30 per month off their internet bills. Commitments from 20 leading internet providers are secured to offer ACP-eligible households a high-speed internet plan for no more than $30 per month. Eligible families who pair their ACP benefit with one of these plans can receive high-speed internet at no cost. To check eligibility and to sign up, call 877-384-2575 or go online to getinternet.gov

PLEASE NOTE: Starting February 7, 2024, new enrollments in the Affordable Connectivity Program is on pause. Congress must act to extend funding for this program for over 23 million households.

BROADBAND IN THE COUNTY

Feasibility Study
Trumbull County partnered with Eastgate Regional Council of Governments and conducted a Regional Broadband Feasibility Study to evaluate Broadband Internet Service throughout Ashtabula, Trumbull, and Mahoning Counties.

The Eastgate Regional Council of Governments issued a Request for Proposals in September 2020, seeking the services of a consultant or firm to perform a Regional Broadband Feasibility Study focused on providing enhanced and reliable internet service to rural areas lacking appropriate coverage, as well as urban centers that require increased speed and access, for the three-county region encompassing Ashtabula, Mahoning, and Trumbull Counties, Ohio. Ice Miller Whiteboard and ms consultants were awarded the RFP and began work on the Study in November 2020.

Existing Fiber Extensions Engineering Analysis
The Western Reserve Port Authority, lead a partnership with the county and completed an engineering and cost analysis for the installation of Fiber and conduit in a concentrated area.  Each affected community has the ability to use the analysis to dedicate funds or apply for grant dollars for installation. The Engineering Analysis is completed and available for review.

This report, executed by AECOM's specialized team of broadband and telecommunications consultants, aims to provide analysis and actionable recommendations for the completion of the proposed fiber optic loop in the region of Trumbull County

State Route 11 Engineering Analysis
This implementation plan builds upon the feasibility study and facilitates a plan for the build-out of an open-access middle-mile fiber optic cable backbone within Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning, and Columbiana Counties. This middle-mile network will be constructed along State Route 11 (SR-11) utilizing the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) right-of-way (ROW) from the approximate limits of Lake Erie (Ashtabula County) to the Ohio River (Columbiana County).

The Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, hereby referred to as Eastgate, is an association of local governments in Northeast Ohio’s Ashtabula, Mahoning, and Trumbull Counties. In 2020, Eastgate commissioned a Feasibility Study to investigate and recommend a means of providing reliable, high-speed broadband internet for the region. The Feasibility Study, completed in 2021, found a lack of access and recommended the build-out of fiber optic cable-based connectivity for residents and businesses in the region.

Broadband Connectivity Plans
This initiative was made possible by grants made to Trumbull County and several other counties in the region from Connect Humanity, whose mission is to expand broadband access across the Appalachian footprint. These plans are directed at ensuring our region's readiness for the State of Ohio's $793 million in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding that should become available in 2025. IN Trumbull County’s Plan, project areas are identified where last-mile broadband deployment is needed and will be targeted for funding through BEAD programming. Trumbull County has also taken into consideration and placed significant emphasis on digital equity programs that will assist their residents who are seeking access to training courses, low and/or not cost devices such as laptops and tablets, and overall assistance in identifying the ISP that is right for their unique household needs. 

Trumbull County conducted the following Connectivity Plan assessment to gather the information needed to analyze, determine, and pursue the best solutions to improve broadband connectivity and affordability locally.

Broadband Expanded Services
Trumbull County Planning Commission continues to work with Eastgate Regional Council of Governments staff to provide service to the underserved areas of Trumbull County, the ten northern (10) townships. An RFP was issued through Eastgate with the assistance of ARPA funds from the commissioners and a proposal selected that will connect over 1800 households through seven of the ten northern townships identified as unserved or underserved.