RACINE — A locally-owned broadband internet access company has doubled its service to Meigs County’s rural communities with the placement of another access point on McKenzie Ridge Road.

New Era Broadband, which is now seeking federal stimulus funds to serve more rural communities in the county. New Era has completed its latest access point on the Multi-Agency Radio Communications System tower on McKenzie Ridge Road, Managing Partner David Hannum of Long Bottom said.

Several agencies, including the Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Management Agency, county commissioners, the state, and Home National bank, Racine, teamed together, allowing the company to serve 200 more homes with high-speed internet access.

Hannum also cited support from Connect Ohio and its state and local staff. Connect Ohio is Gov. Strickland’s public-private organization to further broadband in Ohio’s rural areas.

Residents living within approximately five miles of the MARCS tower on McKenzie Ridge, and within three miles of the Village of Racine water tower on Greenwood Cemetery Road or the Tuppers Plains-Chester water tower on Mile Hill Road stand a good opportunity of being served by New Era Broadband.

The Village of Racine and TP-C Water have also allowed access to their water towers, providing service in Racine, Letart Falls and Dorcas communities, Hannum said.

New Era Broadband has created a $2.9 million plan to provide broadband internet access to over 3,300 currently unserved homes in Meigs County. This plan has been submitted to be considered for funding as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Broadband Stimulus Program, and has been adopted by Meigs County and Connect Ohio as the official Broadband Plan for the county.

If approved, grant and loan funding would allow the company to operate 26 access points in two years.