Manchin, Capito Announce $5 Million for Broadband Expansion Planning in West Virginia

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) announced West Virginia will receive $5 million from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to outline the state’s plan to expand broadband with the estimated $600 million West Virginia will receive to provide broadband access to every unserved area in the state.

“Access to affordable, reliable broadband is vital to the success and growth of our communities across West Virginia and is crucial for attending telehealth appointments, supporting small businesses and staying in contact with family, friends and loved ones,” said Senator Manchin. “That’s why I helped author the $65 billion broadband section in our bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to provide historic broadband funding to ensure all West Virginians have access to broadband. This $5 million will help the state develop a plan for implementing the estimated $600 million West Virginia will receive to deploy broadband across the state. This is a great first step and I look forward to working directly with state officials to ensure everyone has broadband access in the Mountain State.”

“West Virginia must be prepared to maximize the influx of funding coming to our state for broadband deployment as part of our bipartisan infrastructure law,” Senator Capito said. “Closing the digital divide, especially in rural communities across West Virginia, was a top priority when crafting this bill, and we cannot miss this important opportunity to deliver. This $5 million will enable state leaders to put a plan in place to ensure we make the best use of the forthcoming broadband dollars, and bring reliable, high-speed internet to unserved and underserved areas.”