Public Meeting Notice

Ohio Broadband Council to Hold First Meeting

What:  First Meeting of the Ohio Broadband Council

When:  December 4, 2007; 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Where:  Riffe Center for Government and the Arts

            77 South High Street

            Columbus

            31st Floor Conference Room South B & C

Contacts:  Media – Ron Sylvester, (614) 728-8698,

               ron.sylvester@das.state.oh.us

               All Others – Katrina Flory, (614) 995-5466,

               katrina.flory@oit.ohio.gov

Governor Ted Strickland signed Executive Order 2007-24S, Establishing the Ohio Broadband Council and the Ohio Broadband Network, on July 26.  The purpose of the Ohio Broadband Council is to develop a strategic plan for the deployment of a new, statewide broadband data network.

In accordance with EO 2007-24S, the Council will provide the leadership and direction necessary to:

• Direct a unified, statewide broadband development effort
• Develop the phased implementation of Broadband Ohio
• Develop a strategic plan for statewide broadband deployment, determining the resources necessary for its implementation
• Coordinate all broadband activities that receive state-appropriated funds and pursue new federal and private-sector investments in broadband
• Establish policies and promote new public and private broadband networking investments
• Develop a strategic plan to achieve digital inclusion

Broadband Council members include: Mark Forni, Dept. of Agriculture; Rod Houpe, Dept. of Commerce; Norman Chagnon, Dept. of Development; Steve Burigana, Dept. of Education; Bruce Hotte, Dept. of Health; John Wanchick; Dept. of Job and Family Services; Jeffrey Clouse; Dept. of Public Safety; Ronnie Fergus; Public Utilities Commission of Ohio; Harry Andrist, Board of Regents; Fred Deel, Governor’s Office of Appalachia; Rep. David Daniels, Ohio House of Representatives; Sen. Joy Padgett, Ohio State Senate; Sen. Jason Wilson, Ohio State Senate; Mark Ansboury, One Community (Cleveland); Shawn Clemmons, South Central Ohio Computer Association; Justin Fallon, Gallia County Commissioner; Stephen Hedges, Ohio Public Library Information Network; Chris Henney, Ohio Farm Bureau; Gary Little, Information Technology Alliance of Appalachian Ohio; Rob Luikart, Ohio State University; Frank Mathews, Communications Workers of America; Brian Phillips, Ohio University; Jennifer Simon, Athens Chamber of Commerce; U.S. Rep. Zack Space, U.S. House of Representatives; Scott Teeters; LaMar Wyse, Galion Community Hospital; Ed Kozelek, Time Warner Cable; Sharon Mitchell, Dakota Community Center; Connie Browning, AT&T Ohio; Janine Migden-Ostrander, Ohio Consumers’ Counsel.

Council Co-Chairmen are Ohio state government Chief Information Officer Steve Edmonson and Ohio Supercomputer Center Executive Director Stanley Ahalt.