For the more than 615,000 Ohioans without regular access to high speed internet, this means a lack of access to things like online job applications, bill-paying services, and, critically, the numerous online legal resources available to other Ohioans.
Only 78.3% of rural Ohioans enjoy the same broadband access that 99.3% of urban Ohioans enjoy, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
As a result, rural Ohioans often have to go to public libraries in order to access high-speed internet. During the coronavirus pandemic, this is impossible and results in families parked in library parking lots to get online to access resources they need. However, for families where this is not an option, they must go without any internet access.
Please ask Congress to address this justice gap by identifying and coalescing behind a piece of legislation that provides the funding necessary to address this need.
