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FEBRUARY 2022 NEWSLETTER

Josiah Martin • February 8, 2022

New Broadband Affordability Program Launches

The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBBP) was a short-term program to help lower the cost of broadband for low-income households during the pandemic. Fortunately, assistance will continue through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Created by the Infrastructure Jobs and Investment Act, the program provides qualifying households a discount of up to $30 per month from a participating provider’s bill. Some participating providers are offering an additional benefit of up to a $100 discount off the purchase of computers or tablets.


Households qualify for the ACP through participation in a number of public benefit programs or having a household income of up to 200% of   the federal poverty guidelines. This includes households with children eligible for free or reduced-priced school lunch. 


Federal Communications Commission data shows 402,865 Ohioans participated in the EBBP. It is estimated that more than one million Ohio households would likely qualify for the new federal program to cover some of the cost of home internet services.

Senate Will Consider Criminal Justice Reform Bill

Last week, Senate Bill 288 was introduced by Senator Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville). The bill addresses recodification of the criminal code, sentencing, collateral sanctions, and expungement issues. It makes changes to many portions of the criminal code including criminal record sealing. Among other changes, the bill would:

  • Streamline the sealing process, creating one pathway to sealing
  • Allow an individual to apply to seal one or more felonies of the third degree three years after final discharge, one or more felonies of the fourth or fifth degree or one or more misdemeanors one year after final discharge, and minor misdemeanors six months after final discharge
  • Require the court to hold a hearing not less than 45 days and not more than 90 days from the date of the filing of the sealing application
  • Allow a judge to expunge the record instead of seal it if necessary. 


The bill addresses court-ordered driver’s license suspensions for specific criminal offenses. For example, the bill removes a license suspension as a sanction for the offense of “attempt.”


Many of the provisions of the bill have been previously considered but not enacted. Senate President Matt Huffman hopes to complete the work on this 1,800-page bill before the end of the current session. 

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