Public Meetings Planned For Review, Comment on WV State Broadband Investment Plan

West Virginia’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Five-Year Action Plan has been approved by the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA).

This Five-Year Action Plan prepares West Virginia to invest a $1.2 billion allocation from the NTIA BEAD program.

The West Virginia Department of Economic Development, Office of Broadband, (WVDED), published the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Initial Proposal Volume 2 for review and comment on Friday, October 20th. Comments will be accepted for 30 days, or until Monday, November 20th, 2023.

The WVDED and the Mountain State's Regional Planning and Development Councils will co-host a series of informational public meetings to provide details on the Initial Proposal Volume 2, provide general updates on the State’s BEAD and Digital Equity Programs, and answer residents' questions about broadband expansion in West Virginia.

The WVDED is responsible for deploying local and federal broadband funds, including $1.2 billion in federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding for broadband development in West Virginia.

Public Meetings Dates and Locations are listed below:

October 30, 2023
LINCOLN COUNTY
Hamlin Public Broadband Meeting
Hamlin-Lincoln Co. Public Library
7999 Lynn Ave
Hamlin, WV 25523
2:15pm-4pm

WOOD COUNTY
Parkersburg Public Broadband Meeting
Parkersburg & Wood County Public Library
3100 Emerson Ave
Parkersburg, WV 26104
4:15pm-6pm

NICHOLAS COUNTY
Summersville Public Broadband Meeting
Summersville Arena and Conference Center
3 Armory Way
Summersville, WV 26651
4pm-6pm

November 1, 2023
UPSHUR COUNTY
Buckhannon Public Broadband Meeting
Upshur County Public Library
1150 Route 20 South Rd
Buckhannon, WV 26201
4:15pm-6pm

OHIO COUNTY
Wheeling Public Broadband Meeting
Ohio County Public Library
Downstairs Meeting Room
52 16th St
Wheeling WV 26003
4:15pm-6pm

November 2, 2023
BERKELEY COUNTY
Martinsburg Public Broadband Meeting
Martinsburg Public Library
101 W King St
Martinsburg, WV 25401
4:15pm-6pm

November 6, 2023
MERCER COUNTY
Princeton Public Broadband Meeting
Woodlyn T. Kendrick Meeting Room
Princeton Public Library
920 Mercer St.
Princeton, WV 24740
4:15pm-6pm

November 7, 2023
GREENBRIER COUNTY
Lewisburg Public Broadband Meeting
City Council Chambers
Lewisburg City Hall
942, Washington St
Lewisburg, WV 24901
2:15pm-4pm

November 9, 2023
CLAY COUNTY
Clay Public Broadband Meeting
Clay County Public Library
614 Main St, Clay, WV 25043
4:15pm-6pm

MONONGALIA COUNTY
Morgantown Public Broadband Meeting
Meeting Room A
Morgantown Public Library
373 Spruce St
Morgantown, WV 26505
4:15pm-6pm

HANCOCK COUNTY
Weirton Public Broadband Meeting
Mary H. Weir Public Library
3442 Main St
Weirton, WV 26062
4:15pm-6pm

November 16, 2023
GRANT COUNTY
Petersburg Public Broadband Meeting
Region 8 PDC Office
131 Providence Ln
Petersburg, WV 26847
12:30pm-2pm


Public Comment Sought

WVDED seeks public comment to ensure that this document reflects the needs of West Virginians. All members of the public are encouraged to provide feedback on the contents of the Initial Proposal Volume 2 via: Online Comment Form, found here.

Printable Comment Form, which can be printed here, and mailed to:
WVDED
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Building 3, Room 600
Charleston, West Virginia 25305

Comments must be postmarked by November 20, 2023. 

Copies of the Initial Proposal Volume 2 will be available at each of the State’s 11 Regional Planning and Development Councils.

For more information on the West Virginia Broadband Investment Plan, visit the Office of Broadband website at https://broadband.wv.gov/