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.
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. View the complete Study Here.
The Western Reserve Port Authority, lead applicant in partnership with the county, submitted an ARC planning grant application on April 29, 2022. The application request included completion of engineering and cost analysis for the installation of Fiber and conduit in a concentrated area. Each community will have the ability to use the analysis to use ARPA funds or apply for grant dollars for installation. The announcement was made in October 2022 that this project was funded, and a kick-off meeting was held. A draft RFP and Scope of Work was defined and released with a due date for proposals set for March 30, 2023. The lowest and best proposal was awarded to AECOM on May 23, 2023. The Engineering Analysis is completed and available for review.
State Route 11 Engineering Analysis
Staff worked with Eastgate and partners using another pot of NTIA funds to develop an engineering cost analysis for the “Route 11 backbone” identified in the feasibility study. A consultant was selected, and a project kick-off was held on September 28, 2022, with representatives from the State Department of Development and Broadband Ohio. Analysis is in final draft form and available on the Eastgate website for review.
Eastgate is advancing the Regional Broadband Feasibility Study recommendation to deliver robust communications infrastructure to the region. The end goal is to bring reliable, high-speed broadband internet access to residents, businesses, and key project stakeholders in the region and eliminate the current digital divide.
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 staff is working with Eastgate staff to develop a plan to provide service to the underserved areas of Trumbull County, the northern ten (10) townships. A draft RFP after revision to satisfy ORC 153.01, et seq. to solicit qualified Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to deploy wireless broadband in the areas identified was submitted as an ARPA funding request to the County Commissioners. This is still pending the attorney review from the Commissioners.
Staff submitted a questionnaire of interest on behalf of the Trumbull County Commissioners for a $30,000 grant through the Appalachia Digital Accelerator for Connect Humanity to provide Technical Assistance in broadband deployment. Trumbull County received an award, and the grant agreement was executed by Commissioner Malloy in 2023. Staff participated in a kick-off workshop and provided a checklist and guide to be used while working on the study in partnership with Eastgate Regional Council of Governments and Connect Humanity. Staff have bi-weekly check-ins and have completed the data collection piece (Section 1) of the checklist and completed Section 2 of the checklist with assistance from Oakhill Collaborative. Section 2 includes mapping services being conducted by our Plats and Zoning Coordinator. Staff worked with the Connect Humanity consultants to provide information needed for Section 4 that deals with financial opportunities. Staff completed the Final Section (3), dealing with infrastructure with assistance from Eastgate Regional Council of Governments and is now focused on taking all the information previously gathered and putting it into a template draft plan.