Carroll County Economic Development Announces Results of Rural Digital Opportunity Broadband Phase I Auction

CARROLL, OH (December 17, 2020) – Residents of Carroll County will benefit from the Federal Communication Commissions (FCC) announcement of the results from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase I auction. The RDOF is the FCC’s major initiative to bridge the urban-rural digital divide by expanding broadband internet access throughout rural America. Funding will be directed to finance high-speed broadband networks in unserved rural areas, including in Carroll County Ohio. This initiative is connecting millions of American homes and businesses to digital services for the first time.

Four Ohio bidders have been awarded $4,112,513 in support to expand broadband internet service to 5,159 unserved homes and businesses in Carroll County over the next 10 years. While it seems like 10 years is a long time for the project to be completed 40% of the project must be completed within the next 3 years and then 20% in year 4 and another 20% by the end of year 5.

“This is historic and great news for so many residents in our rural community,” said Carroll County Economic Development Director Christopher Modranski. “Quality, high-speed broadband internet service is a necessary utility and has been a great need for many of our residents who are on the wrong side of the digital divide.”

The four vendors are: CCO Holdings, LLC (Charter Communications); Connect Everyone, LLC; Mercury Wireless, Inc; and Rural Electric Cooperative Consortium.