Ohio Announces $130 Million Broadband Expansion for Rural Southwest Counties
The state announced a $130 million public private partnership with AltaFiber on November 17 to extend high speed internet to about 38,000 addresses across Adams, Brown and Clermont counties, including roughly 13,000 homes that are currently completely unserved. Adams County is set to benefit most with more than 7,000 completely underserved addresses, and officials set a first phase completion date of December 31, 2026 with the remainder due in 2028.
State officials unveiled a major broadband build out on November 17 intended to close longstanding connectivity gaps across rural southeast Ohio. The project pairs roughly $50 million in state funding with about $80 million from internet provider AltaFiber, and it targets approximately 38,000 addresses in Adams, Brown and Clermont counties. Of those, about 13,000 addresses are described as completely unserved, with Adams County accounting for more than 7,000 of that total.
The announcement names a multi year construction schedule, with an initial phase scheduled to be finished by December 31, 2026 and the remainder expected to be completed sometime in 2028. Crews will install high speed internet service to homes and businesses across the three county region, a development that proponents say could affect education, healthcare access and local economic opportunities in communities that have struggled with limited connectivity.
Funding for the effort was presented by state officials including Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, who outlined the division of public and private contributions. Local governments and community leaders will be watching delivery against the stated timelines, and residents will want clarity on which addresses are included in each phase, the nature of the service to be provided, and the pricing and adoption supports that will accompany the new infrastructure.
For Adams County the stakes are significant. More than 7,000 addresses identified as completely unserved represent a substantial portion of the county's rural households. Lack of internet access has practical consequences for students who rely on digital learning resources, patients seeking telehealth appointments, small businesses that depend on online markets, and residents completing essential tasks such as applying for jobs and accessing government services.
The public private structure of the agreement raises policy questions about oversight, contract terms and long term accountability. Local officials will need to secure detailed build maps, performance standards, maintenance commitments and transparency around permitting and pole attachment agreements. Equally important will be efforts to ensure service is affordable and that residents are supported to adopt and use broadband once it is available.
Community engagement will shape outcomes. Clear reporting of progress, opportunities for local input and targeted outreach in the most isolated areas can increase the project s impact. As construction moves forward, Adams County residents and elected officials should press for regular updates, specific coverage maps and measurable benchmarks so the promised expansion translates into reliable, affordable internet for the communities that need it most.
