A plan with almost $546 million going into 142 projects aimed at connecting over 73,000 West Virginia locations unserved or underserved by high-speed internet will increase citizens’ access to more opportunities for education, health care and jobs, federal and state leaders announced Friday.
Thursday night, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., a member of both the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Appropriations Committees, and Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s approved the state’s Final Proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program.
Now that West Virginia is approved, the state will soon begin awarding its funding through the BEAD program to begin deploying high-speed internet networks, Capito said in her announcement. The funding, announced in June 2023, was made possible through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“I am thrilled that West Virginia’s BEAD plan has been approved by the Department of Commerce,” she said. “This means West Virginia is another step closer to better-connecting our homes, businesses, and classrooms across the state. I have had dozens of conversations with the Administration and our state officials, and while there is still a long road ahead to getting more West Virginians connected, we are well on our way with today’s announcement. I look forward to continuing to help our state in any way that I can as the plan moves its way through the approval process at NIST.”
Gov. Patrick Morrisey also said Friday during an announcement live streamed over social media that the Trump Administration had approved the state’s broadband development plan, clearing the way to start connecting over 73,000 more locations to high speed internet services.
West Virginia’s approved plan includes close to $546 million for 142 deployment projects, connecting 73,044 unserved and underserved locations throughout the state. NTIA is reviewing other allowable uses for the additional funds and will issue updated guidance in the future, he said.
“You know, this is going to get real for West Virginia very, very soon,” Morrisey said.
Increasing high-speed internet access will make it easier for West Virginians to get telehealth services, take continuing education courses leading to better jobs and take dual credit college courses, he said. Having broadband will also let parents in rural districts take online jobs. Building the necessary infrastructure will lead to construction and maintenance jobs, too, he added.
“We’re always looking to increase job numbers in West Virginia,” the governor said. “This has been pending for years and we’re glad that we’re finally able to bring it home.”
Currently, the plan calls for expanding broadband access over a four-year period with the goal of completing all the projects by 2029, Morrisey said.