Jefferson County officials are pushing to bring broadband Internet access to rural parts of the county.

Officials said they hope stimulus money will connect Appalachia Ohio to the rest of the world.

Local leaders and business owners in Jefferson County said the Internet would bring these areas up to speed on the information highway.

Bringing broadband to the area is about linking more people to healthcare, education and tourism, according to local leaders.

Ed Rice, owner of Signs Limited, said Internet access is how he does business. He uses the Internet for prints and graphics and to send quotes and receive orders.

"It's 90 percent of our incoming and outgoing information. We deal with customers as far away as California, who use the Internet to send us information,” Rice said.

Rice decided to move his growing business from Steubenville to the Jefferson County Industrial Park, which unfortunately has no broadband connection.

Because Signs Limited is not alone in the broadband dilemma, Jefferson County leaders are learning more about Ohio congressman Zack Space's initiative, "Connecting Appalachia.”

President of Reid Consulting Tom Reid said 62 to 75 percent of the 34-county area in question is without broadband.

“We're looking for $75 million in broadband stimulus funds and another $20 million from the FCC,” Reid said.

Reid said although it sounds like a lot of money, it would only be 1 percent of the available stimulus fund.

Some local people do not support the idea of taxpayers paying for the extension of broadband access. Some think residents and business owners should foot the bill themselves.

Jefferson County will not know if the area will receive stimulus money until late summer or early fall.