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Connected Nation Ohio Names State Program Director

Public Asked to Provide Input on Broadband Maps, Attend Local Technology Planning Forums


303a Ohio Full Pos 300x250Columbus, OH (January 16, 2020) – Connected Nation Ohio (CN Ohio) recently named Tina Lyden as its State Program Director. As part of her work to identify innovative solutions to connect all families and communities in Ohio to broadband (high-speed internet), Lyden will help guide a series of broadband forums taking place across the state, starting this Friday, January 17.

The forums will give local stakeholders and the public an opportunity to review the state’s recently released broadband service availability maps, provide feedback on where coverage truly is and is not, as well as discuss other technology plans specific to the community and region.

“Our team has spent the last several months working with broadband providers across the state to create a more accurate map of current coverage,” said Lyden. “Now we need feedback on what is correct and what areas may need to be revisited. These data are so important because they will help inform Ohio leaders’ work to expand broadband access to all Ohioans—and they need good data to be able to make impactful and positive decisions when it comes to developing a plan for the state.”

Lyden is a technology executive who has spent more than three decades providing vision, leadership, and governance for a wide array of technology endeavors in industry sectors including education, insurance, government, financial services, energy, healthcare, and manufacturing.

She has made Ohio safer for all Buckeyes by conducting outreach and speaking on behalf of the Department of Administrative Services to share information with future users and first responders in various market sectors about the National Public Safety Broadband Network called FirstNet.

Lyden Tina Squaare 300x300 Tina Lyden, State Program Director, Connected Nation Ohio

“Tina cares deeply about helping communities in her home state and she has a strong background in technology—making her the perfect fit for the role of CN Ohio’s State Program Director,” said Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO, Connected Nation. “By working with Ohio leaders, local stakeholders, internet service providers, and others, we can move the needle in the direction of providing access to every Ohioan. With the recent release of the Ohio Broadband Strategy, Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted have made it clear they are working to ensure Ohio families and businesses have access to the opportunities and resources that broadband can provide.”

InnovateOhio released the Ohio Broadband Strategy plan in December. According to a release from the organization, “if approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), it will also qualify local governments in Ohio to receive 20 additional points on applications for federal ReConnect funding.”

One study found that reaching full broadband coverage in Ohio would generate an estimated $1 billion to $2 billion, conservatively, and up to $6.6 billion in economic benefits over the next 15 years. In addition, the telehealth cost savings annually per healthcare facility are $27,209.

“We are laser-focused on identifying exactly where the Digital Divide sits in Ohio and the challenges and solutions to closing it,” said Lyden. “But as we move this work forward, we need all Ohioans to join the conversation by either attending one of our seven broadband forums or going to our website to provide feedback and input on the state of broadband in your area.”

You can view the latest maps on the CN Ohio website at this address: https://connectednation.org/ohio/mapping-analysis/. You can also provide feedback on the maps at https://connectednation.org/ohio/feedback. Input and feedback on the maps are being accepted through February 2020.

A list of Regional Broadband Forums and their RSVPs are as follows:

RSVP – Regional Broadband Forum – Northeast Ohio
Friday, January 17, 10 am to Noon
Kent State University Hotel & Conference Center, 215 S. Depeyster Street, Kent, OH

RSVP – Regional Broadband Forum – Central Ohio
Tuesday, January 21, 10 am to Noon
DoubleTree Hotel, 50 N. 2nd Street, Newark, OH

RSVP – Regional Broadband Forum – Southeast Ohio 1
Wednesday, January 22, 10 am to Noon
Holzer Medical Center, 500 Burlington Road, Jackson, OH

RSVP – Regional Broadband Forum – Southeast Ohio 2
Thursday, January 23, 10 am to Noon
SE OSU Operations Center, 16714 State Route 215, Caldwell, OH

RSVP – Regional Broadband Forum – Southwest Ohio
Tuesday, January 28, 10 am to Noon
Oasis Golf & Conference Center, 902 Loveland-Miamiville Road, Loveland, OH

RSVP – Regional Broadband Forum – West Ohio
Wednesday, January 29, 10 am to Noon
Troy Country Club, 1830 Peters Road, Troy, OH

RSVP  – Regional Broadband Forum – Northwest Ohio
Thursday, January 30, 10 am to Noon
University of Findlay - Virginia B. Gardner Fine Arts Pavilion, Malcolm Dining Room, 1000 N. Main Street, Findlay, OH

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Connected Nation Ohio (CN Ohio) is the local subsidiary of the national non-profit, Connected Nation. Our mission is to improve lives by providing innovation solutions that expand access, adoption, and use of high-speed internet and its related technology to all people. Everyone belongs in a Connected Nation.

Connected Nation works with consumers, local community leaders, states, technology providers, and foundations to develop and implement technology expansion programs with core competencies centered on a mission to improve digital inclusion for people and places previously underserved or overlooked. For more information, please visit: connectednation.org and follow Connected Nation on Facebook and Twitter.