WATCH: Connecting our communities for the future

Jacob Brown, 23, (left) searches for jobs at the Lane Library Hamilton branch. In 2013, about 72 percent of Ohio residents had high-speed broadband service at home, up 1 percentage point from 2012 and 6 percentage points from 2011, according to a survey of Connect Ohio. About 12 percent of Ohioans last year did not use the Internet, and others have slow, dial-up service or can only access the web outside of home, the survey found.

Credit: Nick Daggy

Credit: Nick Daggy

Jacob Brown, 23, (left) searches for jobs at the Lane Library Hamilton branch. In 2013, about 72 percent of Ohio residents had high-speed broadband service at home, up 1 percentage point from 2012 and 6 percentage points from 2011, according to a survey of Connect Ohio. About 12 percent of Ohioans last year did not use the Internet, and others have slow, dial-up service or can only access the web outside of home, the survey found.
Ideas & Voices
April 7, 2023
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The digital divide is growing, and many people find it challenging to navigate the ever-increasing digital world without access to services, devices, or education that helps protect them while online.

The COVID-19 pandemic made it clear for many in our communities and across the rest of the nation that the infrastructure that underpins so much of our digitized healthcare, business, education and other sectors was lacking.

Citizen input is needed to ensure that Ohio gets its cut of billions in federal money for broadband internet.

The discussion was co-hosted by Community Impact Editor Nick Hrkman and Dayton Daily News Reporter London Bishop and featured panelists from around our region to help answer your questions about digital literacy, digital equity and more. Panelists include:

  • Joshua Ashworth, Information Technology Director for the Dayton Metro Library
  • Maria Butts, Ohio Connectivity Champion with The Management Council
  • Fabrice Juin, Regional Equity Initiative Manager for the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission
  • Katie Meyer, policy and program manager for AltaFiber
  • Terry Vandeberg, Resident Services Grant Manager for St. Mary’s Development Corporation

Have a question for our panel? Email it to nick.hrkman@coxinc.com

Community Conversations is a Dayton Daily News series of moderated panel discussions on topics important to the Dayton region. Watch the March Community Conversation about challenges and opportunities for women in the Miami Valley, the February Community Conversation about Black History Month, the January Community Conversation about the 2023 regional economic outlook and last November’s Community Conversation about hunger and others on the Dayton Daily News Facebook page.

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