Smart Phone and Laptop Usage on the Rise

It seems that everyone today uses a cell phone as their main means of transportable communication. So it does not come as a surprise that the Connect Ohio Residential Technology Assessment finds that 80% of Ohio Residents own a cellular phone. Now with the adaptation of smart phones, these devices can be used for much more than just making a phone call.

Wireless capabilities available on smart phones are producing an increase in users who are adopting this technology as their primary means of accessing the Internet. According to a recent article from The Washington Post, “A quarter of Americans with smartphones use the devices as their main way to get onto the Internet.” Smart phones are an alternative for buying computers and paying an additional monthly bill – something especially attractive for people with lower incomes. In Ohio, the number of residents who access the Internet through a subscription to mobile broadband service is now at 31%, a significant increase from 2008 when only 13% subscribed.

The convenience of having a portable device, according to the Connect Ohio Residential Technology Assessment, is also seen in the rise of Ohio laptop computer ownership, now at 45% while desktop ownership is down 2% from 2010. Although mobile subscriptions are on the rise, the number of Ohioans who subscribe to broadband from home is still the preferred method, with 66% of Ohio residents currently having home broadband.

Every Citizen Online All-Star Facility Award Presented to Wadsworth Public Library

Connect Ohio has named Wadsworth Public Library an Every Citizen Online (ECO) All-Star Facility.

Mohamed Ragheb, WPL, and Jeff Beebe, Connect Ohio

The ECO All-Star Facility award was presented to Mohamed Ragheb, technology manager and ECO program coordinator for the library, during Connect Ohio’s quarterly Technology Association Meeting breakout lunch session held in Columbus September 30, 2011.

Connect Ohio ECO staff, including state operations managers and the executive director, choose the ECO All-Star Facility awardee based on meeting various program ‘hallmarks of excellence’. These include, but are not limited to, the number of adults taking ECO training at the facility’s locations, ECO program survey completion rate, creative promotional and community partnerships assisting in awareness and local success of the program, and the level of engagement of facility coordinators in the ECO program.

Wadsworth Public Library has trained more than 115 adults on the basics of computer and Internet use through their ECO class offerings.

Congratulations Wadsworth Public Library!

Connect Ohio Awards 12 Laptops to Every Citizen Online Computer Giveaway Winners

Throughout the month of July, Connect Ohio staff was busy coordinating computer distribution events throughout the state following the Every Citizen Online (ECO) computer giveaway. The giveaway entry period was between April 5 and June 20, 2011. ECO participants who completed an online survey following the free basic computer and Internet training were entered into a random drawing for one of 12 new laptop computers.

A media-friendly event was coordinated for each of the 12 winners at the location the ECO training was completed and included Connect Ohio staff, ECO location staff, and ECO coordinators and instructors. The winners had great stories to share regarding their experience with the free computer training and how the new knowledge and comfort with computers is already helping them.

“I loved the (ECO) training and the instructor was one in a million,” said Cathy McComis, winner and ECO participant at Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library. “I don’t have a computer, so now I can go get Internet at home. I’m so excited!”

“It will be so nice to have a portable computer,” said Roseanna Wenig, winner and ECO participant at the Marion Public Library.

“I was just ready to buy a new desktop computer because mine is old,” said Louise Beldon, winner and ECO participant at Northwest State Community College. “I like to use the Internet to read e-mail, play computer games, and look up recipes. I want to learn Facebook and other websites.”

“I loved the training,” said Sharon Kiener, winner and ECO participant at OSU South Central Region Extension Office. “I needed the basics of the Internet and I’m looking forward to learning new things, like selling antiques on eBay and editing photos. I didn’t have a computer at a home (before winning the laptop). I would love to get the Internet now.”

“It’s not every day things like winning a new laptop happen to me,” said Brandy Archer, winner and ECO participant at Community Action Council of Portage County. “Being without a job since August of 2010, I was given the opportunity to take classes at CTLC for my MOS certifications, as well as the Every Citizen Online (ECO) classes. I am hopeful winning the laptop will get me one step closer to achieving my return to the workforce.”

Congratulations to the computer winners!

A full list of computer winners and the location in which training was completed are listed below:

·       Archer, Brandy – Community Action Council of Portage County

·       Beldon, Louise – Northwest State Community College

·       Buchanan, Doris – Kate Love Simpson-Morgan County Library

·       Griebling, Sharon – Pioneer Career and Technology Center, Bucyrus location

·       Hawkins, Elaine – Shaker Heights Public Library

·       Kiener, Sharon – Ohio State University South Central Extension, Learning Center East

·       McComis, Cathy – Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library

·       O’Connor, Patricia – University of Dayton

·       O’Brien, Becky – Kate Love Simpson-Morgan County Library

·       Summit, Jerry – Columbus Metropolitan Library

·       Wenig, Roseanna – Marion Public Library

Young, Thelma – Forest-Jackson Public Library

Low Number of Ohio Small Businesses Online, Google Offering Help

Today, a main source for finding information about a business is to search for their website or online presence. It is shocking to think that many businesses are still not online. According to Google, 97 percent of Americans go to the Internet to look for local products and services. Connect Ohio’s 2011 Broadband and Business Assessment reveals two-thirds of Ohio businesses do not use broadband and do not have an online presence. 

Google is offering to help Ohio businesses get online with the “Ohio Get Your Business Online” program. The program is designed to help businesses create and maintain a website. It begins today in Columbus and continues through next week with stops in other major Ohio cities.

Helping small businesses get online can increase their annual revenue, which in turn can generate more jobs and economic productivity.

Other upcoming Google event stops include:
• Lima, September 29
• Bowling Green, September 30
• Dayton, October 4
• Cincinnati, October 5

Having a company website not only makes the company more easily accessible, but helps provide an over-all convenience. The Broadband and Business Assessment found that Ohio businesses with-out broadband have an annual revenue of $300,000, while Ohio businesses with broadband and a website have a median revenue of $800,000.

Additional key statistics from the assessment include:
• Statewide, 67% of all Ohio businesses subscribe to broadband
• Ohio businesses pay a median monthly price of $67.36 for their broadband service

The assessment found that existing barriers for small businesses being online is that they don’t see a need for it, expense, or being uninformed of the benefits to being online. Programs such as Google’s can be very helpful in over-coming some of these barriers.

For more information on the Ohio Get Your Business Online program, visit http://www.ohiogetonline.com/

Agreement Will Provide Broadband Access to 1200+ Households in Southern Ohio

A recent lease agreement between JB Nets and Gallia County officials for the use of three county-owned towers will provide high-speed Internet access to more than a thousand homes in rural parts of the county.

JB Nets presented a broadband expansion business plan, which included Google Earth mapping of propagation studies and a business case analysis template designed by Connect Ohio, to Gallia County officials just over a week ago. According to Jake Kline, owner of JB Nets, the plan includes high-speed Internet coverage to 80% of the county within the next three years and the creation of at least two, but possibly three, full-time jobs.

“These three initial towers should be able to expand (Internet coverage) to 450-500 households,” said Kline. “However, our proposal also included 30 additional secondary towers to fill in gaps. We estimate approximately 1,200-1,400 total additional households that could receive service from us with all 33 towers constructed.”

Gallia County officials accepted the proposal and have signed lease agreements with JB Nets for the use of the three 911 communications towers, located in Gallipolis Township, Harrison Township, and Ohio Township.

“It is exciting to see community leaders cooperating with a local broadband provider to offer high-speed Internet to residents who otherwise would be left behind,” said Bart Winegar, technical outreach manager for Connect Ohio.

“The information Connect Ohio provided us was very useful in putting together our business plan/proposal,” said Kline.

According to Connect Ohio’s 2011 Residential Technology Assessment for Gallia County, only 42% of households receive broadband service to the home, significantly less than the state average of 66%.

Other Gallia County technology figures:

• Sixty-seven percent of Gallia County residents own a computer, which is less than the state average of 80% 
• Of the 33% of residents who do not own a computer, 71% claim they do not need a computer, 21% say computers are too complicated, and 20% say computers are too expensive 
• Seventy-five percent of residents access the Internet from home or some other location 
• The average monthly cost for home broadband service in Gallia County is $50.83, above the state average of $43.41 

For more information on JB Nets, visit http://jbnets.net.

Additional Gallia County technology research can be found at http://connectohio.org/_documents/Technology_Assessment_Gallia_County_2011.pdf.

Connect Ohio Staff Takes Part in Community Care Day

On Tuesday, Connect Ohio staff participated in United Way of Central Ohio’s 2011 Community Care Day by assisting in yard work and landscape beautification at Alvis House’s Administration Office. Alvis House provides programs and services for individuals transitioning from being involved in the criminal justice system to re-entering the community. Alvis House also works with the families of those individuals and with those who may be at risk of entering into criminal behavior. In addition, the organization operates supported living and residential programs for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Nine Connect Ohio employees worked alongside Alvis House maintenance personnel clearing overgrown brush, leaves, and trash, as well as weeding and hedge trimming the landscape surrounding the building.


Community Care Day is the largest one-day volunteer outreach in central Ohio and is an opportunity for teams of employees from companies throughout Columbus to volunteer. This year’s event included 3,000 volunteers from 150 companies involved in nearly 200 projects.

Pictured left to right: Dave Matusoff, Benj Foor, Brad Fuller, Katie Beaumont, Bart Winegar, Amanda Murphy, Nicole Smolic, Jeff Beebe, and Heather Delany

See additional photos on the Connect Ohio Facebook page, http://facebook.com/connectohio, as well as the Alvis House Facebook page. 

Comcast launches discounted Internet service program for low-income families

Ohio families with students enrolled in the free lunch program may be eligible to receive high-speed Internet services at a significant discount. Comcast, an Internet provider, is hosting an initiative called Internet Essentials in which households with at least one child receiving free school lunches through the National School Lunch Program can receive high-speed Internet services at just $9.95 per month. The home Internet service includes download speeds of up to 1.5 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 384 Kbps.

The program is applicable to those living in areas serviced by Comcast, which is a large portion of Ohio. Those eligible for the Internet Essentials program may also have the opportunity for a discounted computer and free technology training. Participants can purchase a netbook-style laptop computer that supports wired and Wi-Fi Internet connectivity.

The Internet Essentials program launches for the 2001-12 school year and will run for three full school years.

To apply for this program, call 1-855-8-INTERNET (1-855-846-8376). Additional information on the program can be found at http://internetessentials.com.