NILES — The Trumbull County Planning Commission has submitted an application for this year’s round of grant funding through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER Initiative to fund a broadband feasibility study for all of Trumbull County.

The application was filed on behalf of the communities of Niles, Warren, Howland and Weathersfield, as well as the county commissioners.

Niles Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz said the study will identify the existing fiber-optic lines present in the county, and where and how the network can be expanded. If funded, the grant money will be used as matching funds for a grant with the U.S. Economic Development Administration that will fully fund the feasibility study.

Officials said the planning commission hopes to have projects in the planning stages with communities that have expressed interest by early 2020.