DEAR EDITOR:

Some congressmen have recently introduced legislation that could limit households and businesses in rural areas of our state to satellite internet service while other areas have access to reliable fiber internet. The SPEED for BEAD bill would also make it easier for companies to use low-road contractors when building fiber connections and cause delays in broadband build by forcing states to revisit their plans.

As a telecommunications worker, I know what reliable, long-lasting internet service looks like. Unlike fiber, which is a one-time infrastructure investment with decades of life-

span, the low earth orbit satellites that are used for internet service have a lifespan of approximately five years, requiring significant long-term spending on launches, maintenance, and user equipment upgrades just to keep the current service running. Speeds drop as more users connect to the satellite network, making large-scale adoption impractical. To add insult to injury, satellites can face disruptions due to weather, while fiber is largely immune to this.

Thanks to historic federal funding and other investments coming into our state to build broadband infrastructure, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make sure every home and business has access to true high-speed internet service.

Gov. DeWine and Ohio’s broadband office need to stand by their plan for a statewide fiber buildout and push back on efforts to change the program to lower standards.

ROB LEVONYAK

Vice-President

CWA LOCAL 4300

Canfield