The state began studying the use and demand for broadband
internet services in 2000. At the time, 43% of households used
the internet and 37% thought the lack of internet service was a
problem. A 2001 map showed 63% of residents lived in areas where
at least one internet provider offered a broadband service
(defined at 200 kbps and above at the time). The opinion then
was that providers of DSL and cable services had some of the
country's most aggressive deployment schedules. The
BroadbandOhio proposal sought to bring a high speed service to
all 88 counties. In 2004, the Rural Ohio Technology
Infrastructure Group announced an initiative for improved
services to remote communities. The Connecting Rural Ohio
Wireless Neighborhood initiative in 2007 aimed to deploy
wireless internet access to distressed Appalachian counties. The
Ohio Broadband Council was established in 2008, with funding of
$2.9 million for 2009 and $3.9 million for 2010-11, to expand
access to a broadband service. July 2009 saw the Southern Ohi