(ONN) – Governor DeWine has signed legislation creating a grant program to help expand broadband access in underserved and rural areas of Ohio.

DeWine signed the measure at an elementary school in Middletown.

The measure provides $20 million for grants this year.

Supporters say the pandemic has highlighted how high-speed internet access is a necessity these days.

State officials say an estimated 300,000 Ohio households and more than 1 million residents lack high-speed internet.

The grants would fund the so-called “last mile” parts of broadband projects that providers might otherwise consider unjustifiable from a business perspective.