SHELBY — More than 200 people in northern Richland County could have access to new or improved high-speed internet by the end of next year.

That access is the result of a public-private partnership between Spectrum and state and local government officials.

Brian Young, director of government affairs for Charter Communications, said Spectrum is working to expand its services to around 244 previously unserved or underserved homes and small businesses.

Customers will be able to access its internet, mobile, TV and voice services as a result.

The beneficiaries will primarily be township residents in northern Richland County, Young said.

“It’s a significant investment by Charter Communications/Spectrum, but also it’s been a great partnership with the state of Ohio through BroadbandOhio and the local county commissioners,” Young said.

Project began three years ago with state grant application

While Spectrum and local officials celebrated the expansion with a brief ceremony Thursday at the Black Fork Commons in Shelby, the project has actually been in the works for about three years.

The project is being funded through a combination of funds, including a contribution of $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars from the Richland County Commissioners.

Spectrum invested $3.9 million in the project (including in-kind spending).

The remaining $2.18 million came from the state’s Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant Program (ORBEG), which was allocated about three years ago.

“The access to reliable high-speed internet for education systems, our health care systems and commercial enterprises is key,” said Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero. “You can’t function in today’s day and age without reliable internet.”

Young said the contribution from commissioners made Richland County’s application for ORBEG dollars more competitive.

Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero speaks at a ribbon cutting Thursday at Black Fork Commons. Credit: Katie Ellington Serrao

“Richland County was really one of the few non-Appalachian counties that received money during the first round of funding,” Young said.

The company’s focus on northern Richland County is part of a multi-year, $7 billion rural construction initiative impacting 1.75 million homes and businesses across 41 states, he said. It should be finished by the end of 2026, but Young estimated about 20 percent of customers in the new service area already have the infrastructure in place to access services.

“There’s a lot of projects going around in the state and we’re really pleased and proud to be able to be continuing to expand out into these areas that either don’t have service or have really poor current service,” Young said.

Project coincides with a statewide expansion along Route 30

The Spectrum expansion isn’t the only effort bringing more high-speed internet to Richland County.

Earlier this year, local leaders announced a $20 million project to increase broadband internet access in the area surrounding U.S. 30 — funded by the state’s most recent biennium budget.

The idea was spurred by Dorey Diab, president of North Central State College, and supported in the Statehouse by Rep. Marilyn John of Shelby.

Availability of high-speed internet goes beyond residential convenience. The expansion may include a point-of-presence near or on the Ohio National Guard’s 179th Cyberspace Wing in Mansfield.

The U.S. 30 plan would include a point-of-presence near or on the 179th Cyberspace Wing.

A point-of-presence (POP) is a point or physical location where two or more networks or communication devices build a connection from one place to the rest of the internet.

OANG Col. Gregg Hesterman, who headed up the 179th’s conversion from a flying wing, said in 2024 the unit’s new mission requires improved internet access to allow connectivity with mission partners.

Ohio Rep. Marilyn John speaks about efforts to boost broadband in rural Ohio. Credit: Katie Ellington Serrao

“We’re going to require numerous networks,” Hesterman said. “Mostly everything will be unclassified, but we’ll also have classified or encrypted networks going through that broadband backbone as well.

“To be able to get the most capabilities as close to the installation as possible is absolutely key.”

A quick connection is also crucial for business recruitment.

“We’re in conversations now with other companies that are interested in being in that same area, interested in very large internet connections that need a lot of broadband, a lot of bandwidth and a lot of speed,” Barrett Thomas, head of economic development for the Richland Area Chamber, said in 2024.

“(The broadband expansion project) will certainly be a tool that helps us say, ‘This is the right place to be, instead of any of the other 10 places you’re looking. You want to be here in Richland County,’ ” Thomas said.

Brian Young of Spectrum speaks about the company’s efforts to expand service to rural areas. Credit: Katie Ellington Serrao

John said a lack of broadband internet was one of the first things she discussed with constituents after taking office as mayor of Shelby 15 years ago.

“One of the projects we looked at was broadband,” she said. “Talking with some individuals in the county — they were still on dial-up. They had families, they had children in school and they had nothing else available to them.

“All the elected officials here have been to different meetings — we’ve been to township trustee meetings where residents have shared with us their frustration in not having better internet service in some of the locations around Richland County,” John said.

“This is really a celebration of what we can do when we come together as a team. We work together well — the mayors, the county commissioners, the economic development entities — we’re all in the same boat, rowing in the same direction,” she said.

“We have great partnerships here, which is why we’re able to pull off projects like this.”