Hancock County's digital disparity

FINDLAY — While most local residents view home internet or Wi-Fi as a top priority, about 4% do not have it and about 9% find it "very difficult" to afford, a survey found. Those were among the findings of a representative survey of hundreds Hancock County residents in recent months. The $27,360 study, undertaken by Bowling Green State University's Center for Regional Development, was funded by the Board of Hancock County Commissioners. The commissioners have expressed concerns about "dead zones" for internet and mobile services in rural areas. They hope to use the survey's findings to improve access to all county residents. Broadband access is critical for school children to complete homework assignments. It is critical for people to access telehealth care, for businesses to survive and for job seekers. "The widespread availability of reliable high-speed internet options are limited and sometimes nonexistent," Cory-Rawson Superintendent Jay Clark said. "This lack of access was magnified during the pandemic for schools as we had students without sufficient connection to keep up with online school assignments. I experienced that firsthand as I live in a rural area, and it was not easy for our four children." Among county residents who do not have internet or Wi-Fi at home, the most common reasons cited were lack of availability or that it was too expensive. Over 5% of people had their home internet disrupted for difficulties in paying for the service; that figure could be even larger because 2% of those surveyed declined to answer the question. The needs may be even greater than the survey findings. That's because residents of Findlay accounted for about 56% of responses, where internet accessibility is better than in some rural areas. Nearly two-thirds of Hancock County residents view home internet or Wi-Fi as high a priority as paying for rent/mortgage, food and transportation. The survey showed a need for people to have access to basic courses or instruction to aid them in using computers or other devices to complete various activities online. "This was especially true in listening sessions with seniors who expressed frustration with some tasks," the survey report stated. Among the goals resulting from the survey are: • to improve accessibility to affordable internet connectivity at home by attracting additional internet service providers and expanding publicly available Wi-Fi; • improve speed and quality of internet connectivity across the county by advocating with current internet service providers for greater capacity and quality and providing consumer education around technology and speed; • improve digital literacy across the county by working with public agencies and nonprofits to help educate consumers; partnering with schools to provide volunteers for teaching; and monitoring state digital grants. The county has no funds set aside to improve residents' broadband access. It is unclear at this time whether state or federal funding will be available to help the cause. There had been hope that a recently approved $23 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) could support digital inclusion across Ohio. However, that funding has been rescinded by the Trump administration. Donald Trump received 68% of the Hancock County vote in the 2024 presidential election.