The appalachian ohio middle mile expansion project focuses on key gaps in appalachian ohio's open middle mile infrastructure

The Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded Horizon Telcom Inc. a $48,275,817 Project Grant under the Middle Mile (Broadband) Grant Program (CFDA 11.033). The grant will fund the Appalachian Ohio Middle Mile Expansion Project to deploy 239 miles of new middle mile fiber optic infrastructure and make available an additional 711 miles of existing fiber optic lines for open access in underserved areas of southeastern Ohio. This expanded fiber optic network is expected to facilitate broadband access for 16,257 unserved households, 525 community anchor institutions including 57 unserved locations, and 2,114 businesses. The project's community benefit includes indefeasible rights of use on the network for local K-12 technology centers, healthcare facilities, and the state academic network. Performance is scheduled over four years from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2027.

Activities

Project will use fiber to build new/resilient middle mile network through unserved and underserved communities with a commitment to open access and carrier neutral non-discriminatory interconnect. The period of performance is expected to be four years. Expected outcome: the appalachian ohio middle mile expansion project will achieve the following outcomes: 1.deploy middle mile fiber through 239 miles of new build and make available 711 miles of existing applicant-owned fiber to public access that collectively will facilitate last mile connections for 16,257 unserved and underserved households and 2,114 unserved and underserved businesses. 2.provide access to 525 unserved and underserved anchor institutions. 3.create a community benefit IRU ring supporting schools, healthcare facilities, and local government facilities. 4.high-speed connections to internet aggregation points of presence (pops) in cincinnati, OH and pittsburgh, PA. 5.according to the applicant, wholesale pricing packages will enable end user price reductions of over 400% of prevailing rates on a per mbps per month basis. 6.create a resilient and redundant ring network architecture that supports the delivery of more reliable broadband services to residential, business, and government customers including electric utilities.

Intended beneficiaries

The appalachian ohio middle mile expansion project will benefit unserved and underserved communities in southeastern ohio through the deployment of a fiber optic ring architecture network that provides middle mile and last mile providers access to dark fiber and LIT fiber resources. The applicant asserts that the proposed network will provide broadband infrastructure that enables last mile services via last mile providers for:-16,257 unserved and underserved households-525 total unserved and underserved anchor institutions, including 57 unserved anchor institutions -counties with significant percentage of residence below 150% of poverty line (coshocton 21%, athens 20%, holmes 30%, jefferson 19%, knox 19%, perry 45%, and tuscarawas 17%).

Subrecipient activities

There are no sub awards.