WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee, applauded $5,728,065 in funding for West Virginia, which will be used for deploying high-speed Internet networks and developing digital skills training through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). This funding was made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and was previously announced by Senator Capito in October and November.  

“Bringing high speed, reliable broadband access to our homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses in West Virginia has always been a top priority, which is why I strongly advocated for broadband provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This funding collectively will assist in our efforts to provide communities with the resources they need to improve connectivity overall. In the meantime, I will continue working with leaders on the federal and state levels to make certain that West Virginia’s unserved and underserved areas are accurately represented so we can ensure future resources are directed to the areas that need them the most,” Senator Capito said.

BROADBAND EQUITY, ACCESS, AND DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM:

The BEAD Program provides resources to expand high-speed Internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs. West Virginia will receive $5 million to fund various activities including: Identification of unserved and underserved locations within the state; Training and increasing capacity of the broadband office; Asset mapping across West Virginia to catalog high-speed Internet adoption, affordability, equity, access and deployment; Surveying communities to better understand barriers to high-speed Internet adoption; Development of a 5-year action plan to help the WV Broadband project make data-driven; decisions and invest in communities with the greatest need; Awarding funding to West Virginia University (WVU) and Marshall University.

DIGITAL EQUITY:

The Digital Equity Act provides funding to establish three grant programs to ensure that all people and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy. The first part of NTIA’s execution of the Digital Equity Act is to fund digital equity planning efforts. West Virginia will receive $728,065.00 to fund various activities including: Development of a statewide digital equity plan; Creation of a digital equity program within WV Broadband; Funding pilot programs.