West Virginia
Broadband Update
Over the past year , the coronavirus pandemic has showed the world — and the state of West Virginia — just how important access to reliable , high-speed internet really is . Even as vaccines are rolled out , people continue to work from home , students continue to log in to virtual classrooms , and patients continue to meet with their doctors online .
While broadband access has been a hot topic in the Mountain State for many years , the events of the past year have revealed infrastructure and access cannot wait . Early this year , Senate President Craig Blair said broadband access is one of his top priorities for the West Virginia Legislature ’ s 2021 session . As West Virginians wait to see what the future holds , many projects to improve and expand internet access were already underway prior to the onset of the pandemic , including :
Capito Connect
In 2015 , Senator Shelley Moore Capito launched her Capito Connect initiative to serve as a roadmap for bringing affordable , high-speed internet access to homes , businesses and classrooms in West Virginia . Since then , the program has helped secure grants for Barbour , Doddridge , Harrison , Marion , Monongalia , Preston and Randolph counties .
“ Broadband has been a passion of mine since I was first elected to the Senate because it impacts practically every facet of life ,” says Capito . “ Broadband buildout in a state like West Virginia is difficult and expensive because of our state ’ s topography , but we know this investment is worth it . We have seen the benefits of these investments with a global giant like Virgin Hyperloop choosing to locate in West Virginia . Moving forward , I will continue to stay focused on ensuring federal broadband maps reflect accurate service levels , helping local municipalities understand what federal resources are available to them and prioritizing broadband in appropriations and infrastructure legislation .”
Facebook
In early 2019 , Facebook announced its plans to start construction on two longhaul fiber projects in West Virginia . The first , which is being managed by Middle Mile Infrastructure , a Facebook subsidiary , includes 275 miles of high-capacity fiber cable through West Virginia as part of a 600-mile route to connect data centers in Ashburn , VA , and Columbus , Ohio . This buildout will expand middle-mile networks into communities along its path — including many in Southern West Virginia — and is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2021 .
The second project , which is being undertaken by the Zayo Group , will also run from Ashburn to Columbus and will include approximately 200 miles across northern counties in West Virginia . According to Robbie Morris , chairman of the Broadband Enhancement Council , the company is utilizing Corridor H and Route 50 to map this project , which is expected to be finished by the end of 2021 .
“ Before these two projects , West Virginia didn ’ t have any long-haul backbone fiber running through the state ,” says Morris . “ Having long-haul fiber directly through the state will hopefully lower costs and increase speeds and availability to internet service providers to pass onto customers .”
Rural Digital Opportunity Fund
In September 2020 , Governor Jim Justice signed an executive order allowing West Virginia to leverage $ 766 million
[ broadband ]
Connecting Communities
SAMANTHA CART
to provide insurance on money received from the Federal Communications Commission ’ s ( FCC ) Rural Digital Opportunity Fund , which will direct billions of dollars to finance high-speed broadband networks across underserved , rural America over the next 10 years . In December , an auction was held for providers to bid on specific census blocks , and the FCC announced an estimated 218,000 rural West Virginians would gain access to high-speed broadband through the fund ’ s Phase I auction , through which more than $ 362 million in support was allocated to the state .
Utility Company Feasibility Pilot Projects
In 2019 , Appalachian Power Company submitted a broadband feasibility study to the West Virginia Broadband Enhancement Council outlining its intention to use excess cable space on its fiber optic communications line to provide middle-mile broadband service to two counties within its service territory — Mingo and Logan . This would allow the company to integrate broadband into its microgrid and lease the service to an existing internet provider . The pilot program is still in its beginning phases , but it is already being emulated by FirstEnergy and MonPower to replicate the same model over 10 counties in their service footprint . •
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