Working Wednesday: Broadband Cable strengthened in rural Ohio

Let's face it, without high speed internet any size business can't compete in this local, state, national, or global economy. They need to sell their products and services at competitive prices. Agribusiness can change daily and the slow modem means of communication may mean the loss of income for those selling their crops, etc. Some businesses, antique dealers for example, saw the exact opposite. Some items once thought unusual can easily be found thanks to the internet. In either case, speed is everything.
And it affects the small business owner twice--they may be too far away and it may cost too much since there are only a few customers in the area.

In a news article from Columbus Business First, OARnet, is partnering with 3 cable companies to bring a more efficient high speed internet to rural Ohio. OARnet stands for the Ohio Academic Resource Network and is a division of the Ohio Board of Regents. See: http://www.oar.net/about/index.shtml for more information. It is a public entity networking with schools, healthcare, and government facilities.

OARnet will link their 1,850 miles of network with 3,000 miles of private network owned by these companies to create a public-private partnership. This will make a stronger and faster system for those in rural Ohio. For the full article, see: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2011/11/29/oarnet-getting-faster-better.html?ed=2011-11-29&s=article_du&ana=e_du_pub

We really need a strong fiber optic cable system in Ohio, for all citizens, for all businesses, for all counties. This partnership is another step in that direction.