More Internet May Be Coming

High-speed internet would spread to about 1 million unserved or underserved Ohioans along rural routes and highways, previously off-limits, to private development under a strategic plan. If approved by the Department of Agriculture, the aggressive blueprint for expanding and improving broadband access across the state also would give extra points to Ohio local governments’ applications for related federal grants. Officials say the improvements are vital because Ohio’s lack of connectivity is putting the state at a disadvantage. The strategic document comes as digital giants, including Microsoft and Facebook, are working to solve a connectivity problem in rural, often poor areas of the U.S. that has confounded policymakers for decades.