With $136 million in ARPA Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund money in its pockets, West Virginia has 24 broadband projects ready to begin. As WV News reports, the collection of projects is expected to bring digital connectivity to 20,000 households and businesses. It is estimated that approximately 10 percent of West Virginia residents currently lack broadband access.
Kelly Workman, Director of the Office of Broadband within the state Department of Economic Development commented on the approval of the 24 projects, noting that six have been given notices to proceed. “That enables those projects to move forward with getting their permits,” Workman said, “and making sure that their high-level designs are in order so that they can begin working through the process and getting to construction.” The LEAD [Line Extension Advancement and Development] projects — those were the earliest rounds — those are moving forward. [Governor Jim Justice] did approve some projects out of our major broadband project strategies program and we are working on grant agreements for those projects. We have completed the public notification process for our first GigReady projects.”
The GigReady program is the element of the process that provides local government/matching broadband funding incentives. It focuses on “last mile” connections in local communities. West Virginia has worked to secure funding and grants to help coordinate the overall broadband delivery goal with middle mile and local ISPs to help connect its most remote residents.
“There is a massive amount of work that goes into just being eligible for these programs and then being able to get to the real meat and potatoes of the programs, which are implementation funding,” stated Broadband Enhancement Council chairman, Robbie Skinner. “I think it’s important to stress that West Virginia is not leaving any money on the table when it comes to broadband funding. We are going after everything.”
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