National Telecommunications and Information Administration Administrator Arielle Roth joined Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., local stakeholders, and industry leaders for a Thursday roundtable discussion addressing current connectivity challenges in West Virginia and ongoing efforts to close broadband internet infrastructure gaps across the state.
"After years of delays by the Biden administration, NTIA is proud to be moving forward on the BEAD program and delivering the ‘Benefit of the Bargain’ for Americans,” Roth said in a statement. "It was an honor to join Sen. Capito and local stakeholders to discuss the next stage of the program and NTIA’s commitment to closing connectivity gaps in West Virginia once and for all.”
After redoing its spending plan, West Virginia is looking to get fiber to almost all of its eligible homes and businesses: 94.25 percent fiber, to 73,701 locations, to be exact, according to the state's proposal released Aug. 19.
That's the highest fiber percentage thus far under the 26 states for which data is available.