January 12, 2022

Manchin Announces $561K From American Rescue Plan To Expand Broadband Access Through West Virginia Schools, Libraries

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced $561,367 from the American Rescue Plan for three West Virginia schools, school districts, libraries and other education organizations in the latest round of funding from the Emergency Connectivity Fund. This funding is distributed through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to help schools and libraries purchase laptops and tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers and broadband connections for students, staff and library visitors. To date, West Virginia has received $36,923,791.99 for 53 schools, school districts, libraries and other education organizations from the Emergency Connectivity Fund.

“The Emergency Connectivity Fund has delivered more than $36 million to increase access to reliable broadband for thousands of West Virginia students, teachers and library visitors. I fought to include more than $7 billion in the American Rescue Plan to provide short-term broadband solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic and advocated for rural states like West Virginia. As we work to bring reliable, affordable broadband access to all West Virginians, I will keep pushing to implement long-term solutions included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” said Senator Manchin.

The Emergency Connectivity Fund was authorized in the American Rescue Plan last year to provide $7.17 billion to expand distance learning and connectivity around the country, including key provisions authored by Senator Manchin which prioritized rural areas and made these funds fully reimbursable to ensure rural states like West Virginia do not have to bear the burden of higher costs.

A timeline of Senator Manchin’s efforts to expand broadband can be found here.

Individual awards listed below:

  • $344,619.50 – Mineral County School District
  • $198,475 – Cabell County Schools
  • $18,273 – St. Paul School in Weirton

A timeline of Senator Manchin’s work on the Emergency Connectivity Fund:

  • In November, 2021, Senator Manchin announced $16,072,811 from the Emergency Connectivity Fund to for 13 West Virginia schools, school districts, libraries and other education organizations.
  • In October, 2021, Senator Manchin announced $12,760,030 from the Emergency Connectivity Fund for 19 West Virginia schools, school districts and libraries.
  • In September, 2021, Senator Manchin announced $4,188,368 from the Emergency Connectivity Fund for 12 West Virginia schools, school districts and libraries.