Broadband Connectivity
The Heart of the Matter
More than 5,800 Lawrence County households don't have the minimum internet speed to call broadband. In August 2024, Ohio awarded $94.5 million in Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grants to major last-mile builds in 23 counties — Lawrence wasn't one of them. The only broadband award Lawrence County saw that same month came through a separate, far smaller program: a $151,689.80 pole-replacement grant covering just 811 locations, shared with Gallia County. That's not geography. That's a failure of leadership to show up and compete for the money that actually rebuilds a network, not just the poles it runs on.
What I'll do:
Put current, honest broadband funding maps in front of the public. Make broadband part of every economic development conversation, not an afterthought. Support real last-mile competition and open-access infrastructure. Work with township trustees to identify the unserved areas nobody else is prioritizing. Explore conduit-sharing models that lower the barrier for new providers to compete here at all.
High-speed internet isn't a luxury. It's a requirement for jobs, school, healthcare, and staying connected to the rest of the world. Lawrence County got left out of $94 million once. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again.
No Strings. No Secrets. No Standing By.
[Read the Full Broadband Plan ↓]
How We Actually Get It Done
The Issue
Over 5,800 Lawrence County households sit below the minimum 25/3 Mbps threshold that defines broadband. In August 2024, the State of Ohio announced $94.5 million in Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grants, funding real infrastructure projects in 23 counties. Lawrence County wasn't one of them — the county's share of that funding round was a single pole-replacement project, a fraction of what neighboring counties secured for actual last-mile buildout.
That's not a geography problem. Appalachian terrain didn't stop 23 other counties from competing and winning. It's a failure of administrative oversight and proactive leadership. While other counties were applying, competing, and winning funding to connect their unserved households, Lawrence County's leadership wasn't at the table.
What I'll Do
Make the map honest. Direct county staff to maintain clear, current broadband funding and coverage maps the public can actually use — not outdated data nobody's touched in years.
Put it on every agenda. Make broadband part of every economic development conversation, not a separate issue handled by someone else. A site selector asking about connectivity should get a straight answer, immediately.
Fight for real competition. Support policy that encourages last-mile competition, open-access infrastructure, and public-private partnerships — not a single provider with no incentive to expand.
Work township by township. Partner directly with township trustees to identify and prioritize the unserved rural areas that get overlooked in countywide averages.
Lower the barrier to entry. Explore conduit-sharing and cooperative infrastructure models that make it cheaper and easier for new providers to build here, instead of leaving the county dependent on whoever already has the easiest routes.
"High-speed internet isn't a luxury — it's a requirement for jobs, education, healthcare, and staying connected. Lawrence County got left out of $94 million in state broadband grants. I'll make sure we don't get left out again, and I'll push for real competition."
No Strings. No Secrets. No Standing By.
