SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — Residents in three West Virginia counties will soon have access to expanded broadband internet service thanks to a pair of USDA Rural Development grants.
The federal agency announced Wednesday a $30 Million grant through the Rural Development RECONNECT program to expand the service in Nicholas, Hardy, and Hampshire Counties.
“The $30.4 Million we announced through RECONNECT will serve more than 7,000 individuals. It will serve about 6,100 people in Nicholas County and another 1,400 in Hardy and Hampshire Counties,” said Ryan Thorn, State Director of the U.S.D.A. Rural Development Authority.
The Nicholas County project was granted to the Nicholas County Commission and CityNet will serve as the Internet Service Provider. Hardy Telecommunication was the successful applicant and will be the ISP for the Hardy and Hampshire County project.
“These projects do take a little bit of time, but there are great partners with CityNet and Hardy Telecommunications. They know what they’re doing and I think they’ll be able to expand the access to high speed internet in these communities in a reasonable time frame,” Thorn said.
Thorn added broadband internet has become a necessity in life and the projects to link every household to broadband are the modern equivalent of the Rural Electrification programs of 100 years ago. Much like that effort, federal subsidies to help build out the infrastructure are necessary and the projects are a high priority at the National and State levels.