West Virginia is among the first three states to be approved to start accessing millions of federal dollars for broadband expansion.
The upshot is West Virginia can soon begin drawing down $1.2 billion to deploy high-speed internet networks for a region where connectivity has been an uphill battle.
“This means West Virginia is another step closer to using our $1.2 billion towards efforts to better-connect homes, business, and classrooms across the state,” said Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said the announcement represents progress in ensuring dependable broadband is delivered to every West Virginia business and family.
“Today’s announcement is another step in the right direction of our goal to connect every West Virginian to reliable high-speed internet by the end of the decade,” Manchin said.
The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration has approved Kansas, Nevada and West Virginia’s initial proposals for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Internet for All” initiative.
The designation will enable them to request access to funding and begin implementation of the BEAD program.
Of the three initial states, West Virginia will draw down the most:
- Kansas: $451.7 million
- Nevada: $416.6 million
- West Virginia: $1.2 billion
“I commend the teams in Kansas, Nevada and West Virginia for their tireless work to ensure everyone in their state has access to reliable high-speed Internet service,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
The BEAD program is a $42.45 billion state grant program authorized by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The states were allocated funding to deploy or upgrade high-speed internet networks to ensure that everyone has access to reliable, affordable, high-speed Internet service.
Once deployment goals are met, any remaining funding can be used on high-speed Internet adoption, training, and workforce development efforts, among other eligible uses.
BEAD-eligible entities — states, territories, and the District of Columbia — were required to submit initial proposals detailing how they plan to spend their BEAD allocation to deliver high-speed internet access to all unserved and underserved locations within their borders.
One year from approval of the initial proposal, states must submit a final proposal detailing, among other things, the outcome of the selection process for “subgrantees” that will carry out the broadband expansion work and how the state will ensure service to all unserved and underserved locations.
“Today’s announcements mark another milestone in the effort to close the digital divide across America,” said Alan Davidson, administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
“Kansas, Nevada and West Virginia have created strong plans — reflecting their unique needs — to deploy reliable, affordable high-speed Internet service across their states.”
In a conference call with reporters, Evan Feinman, director of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program for NTIA, described the hard work, motivation and organization of West Virginia officials. He praised Gov. Jim Justice, Economic Development Secretary Mitch Carmichael and Kelly Workman, director of the state Office of Broadband.
“It is the case that it’s one of the finest broadband offices in the country, and they just consistently do really, really excellent work,” Feinman said.