West Virginia receives more than $1 billion in broadband funding from BEAD program
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CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — Gov. Jim Justice announced that West Virginia has acquired $1.2 billion in Broadband Enhancement Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding to be used in improving reliable high-speed internet for residents across the state.
The Office of Broadband, a portion of the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, assisted in obtaining the funds, and the Mountain State is among the first in the nation to secure the NTIA approval.
I’m thrilled that we secured this funding because broadband advancements are extremely important for West Virginia. From day one, my administration has supported the expansion of broadband to every corner of the State, and I am excited to see the results of this historic investment in broadband technology.
Gov. Jim Justice
The approval of West Virginia’s BEAD Initial Proposal Volume II (IPVII) from the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, late last week.
The BEAD program, authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, is a $42.45 billion state grant program. The application process is split into two sections, Volume I and Volume II, and involves 20 program requirements.
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West Virginia’s Initial Proposal Volume I (IPVI) application was submitted in November 2023 and received approval on January 29, 2024. The IPVI outlined the State’s process for completing a challenge process, through which units of local government, broadband providers, and nonprofits can challenge whether a location should be given funding from the BEAD program.
Volume II, which was submitted in December 2023, addressed key elements of the State’s BEAD implementation.
Everyone on our team understands the urgent need to expand broadband to all West Virginians. We cannot overstate the importance of this critical infrastructure to West Virginia’s economic future. The West Virginia Office of Broadband has worked incredibly hard through a rigorous process to reach this point and we look forward to working with NTIA and all of our federal partners to move as quickly as possible to deploy broadband throughout the State.
Mitch Carmichael, West Virginia Secretary of Economic Development
Ahead of the BEAD Initial Proposal Approval, West Virginia began its BEAD Pre-Application Phase on March 18, 2024. The obligatory Pre-Application Phase allows applicants to demonstrate eligibility and the capacity to compete for grants to spread broadband infrastructure to BEAD-eligible locations.
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The BEAD Full Application Phase is to begin in May 2024. Within one year of IPVII approval, West Virginia must submit a Final Proposal that includes projects that will reach both unserved and underserved areas.
Any remaining funds after the completion of broadband projects may be used for workforce development, digital skills training, and other suitable uses, according to the approved guideline.
For more information on the BEAD program, broadband maps, and updates, click here.
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