MANSFIELD — Tony Vero and Dr. Dorey Diab took advantage of high-speed internet in the predawn hours on Tuesday.
The Richland County commissioner and the president of North Central State College used it to scour the web and exchange text messages about $20 million in funding for a planned U.S. 30 broadband project between Canton and Lima.
Both men wanted to make sure Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine had not used his line-item veto power to strike the funding from the two-year, $60 billion state budget he signed late Monday evening, just 45 minutes before the midnight deadline.
Despite the governor using the veto 67 times into the wee hours — the highest number DeWine has issued since becoming governor in 2019 — the sun rose at 6:07 a.m. to find the local broadband project still intact.
“Doc and I don’t sleep much, so we were texting at 6 this morning, scouring the internet to make sure it wasn’t vetoed,” Vero said during a Tuesday morning press conference to announce the funding.
The commissioner credited Diab for broaching the idea with him two years ago during a Richland Community Development Group meeting — and State Rep. Marilyn John (R-Richland County) for getting it through the state budget process.
“Dr. Diab and Marilyn really went into overtime to make sure this project came through. The people in Richland (County) want to give kudos for a very, very significant project,” Vero said.
North Central State College praises project
On Tuesday, the college president said the project will be a multi-pronged blessing across north central Ohio as the new state fiscal year began Tuesday, meaning the funding is now appropriated for use.
“We’re certainly very pleased to be here (today),” Diab said during the event at the Board of Commissioners’ offices. “It’s not often we get $20 million coming into the community to enhance economic development.
“As we all know, the internet connection and capacity is like utilities anymore. It’s like water and electric. We cannot live without it,” Diab said.
John said the broadband project, which will install fiber optic cables primarily along the U.S. 30 right-of-way, didn’t happen by accident.
“This was not my idea,” the former Richland County commissioner and Shelby mayor said. “This was born right here in the county amongst all of you and you worked really hard. When you brought me the idea, I thought it was genius.
“It takes a lot of thoughtful preparation and it takes a lot of collaboration. That’s really what Richland County is about and has been about for a long time,” John said.
“You (all) brought a great project forward that I was really proud to work on with you and my job was just to make connections,” the lawmaker said.
Work begins with Ohio Dept. of Development on plan
The project is part of the Ohio Department of Development budget, according to James Kennedy, policy analyst with the County Commissioners Association of Ohio.
“It was under the priority projects line. So (ODOD) will contact you guys (to discuss the next steps),” Kennedy said.
He said $10.5 million was appropriated for Fiscal Year 2026 and the remainder in FY 2027.
“Any amount that is not spent in 2026 will be rolled into 2027,” Kennedy said.
more coverage of the u.s. 30 broadband internet project
Details must still be worked out through ODOD, which will likely seek proposals from internet service provides to construct the new network.
Local officials were unsure Tuesday where the project would start along U.S. 30, though Vero suggested it begin in Richland County and then work east and west along the corridor.
John said, “I will ensure that Richland County is at the table throughout this process.”
“The governor just signed the budget nine hours ago,” John said. “There will be much, much conversation. Now the real work begins.”
Vero said, “We’re going to make sure Richland is at the forefront on the project. From a selfish standpoint, we want to start in Richland.”
Vero said Diab’s suggestions two years ago helped to spur a local group that included him, Diab, then-Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development President Jodie Perry (now Mansfield mayor) and Barrett Thomas, the chamber’s economic development director.
“This is definitely a clear win for Richland County, and in particular, the City of Mansfield. I would say it’s the most significant economic development project in this county for quite a number of years,” Perry said.
Broadband project will aid new 179th Cyberspace Wing
The U.S. 30 broadband plan would include a point-of-presence, perhaps near or on the 179th Ohio Air National Guard Cyberspace Wing, which is making a transition from its former C-130 flying mission.
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.
Ohio Air National Guard 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.
“Obviously, the internet is the strong backbone of what (the 179th) is doing out there. We’re going to need more juice, so to speak, to support their network,” Perry said. “That was really a significant part, I think, of moving the needle along.
“It certainly is something that will help national security,” the mayor said.
She noted the improved broadband will also aid in economic development at the city’s industrial park areas near Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport.
“It’s a clear win for all of (U.S.) Route 30,” Perry said.
According to Thomas, the project would create a “middle mile” connection, which would create cheaper opportunities for businesses and others to make the “last mile” connections.
“It makes all of those connection points into the ‘backbone’ much closer. So all of those communities (where) it was prohibitively expensive to do a broadband infrastructure build out to homes and businesses … it (will be) exponentially cheaper when that connection point is a quarter (of a mile away) instead of five miles,” Thomas said.
Diab added, “The more we’re able to provide (broadband) to the rural community, the more entrepreneurship capabilities we have, and the more remote work possibilities that we have for everyone.”
Local officials plan to keep foot on the gas
All of the local officials said their work on the project would continue.
“We will do what Richland (County) does,” Vero said. “We will work the phones immediately and we’ll get moving.”
Diab echoed the commissioner’s words.
“Just as we have done, we’ll push the envelope to make sure things are happening,” Diab said.
Perry pointed out the cyberwing needs would help promote Richland County on the priority list for the project.
“The base is coming up … they’re going to need to be fully operational in 2027,” she said. “So that timing, I think, works for us.”
