Hamlin, W.Va. - Governor Patrick Morrisey today announced a major expansion of high-speed fiber broadband across rural West Virginia that will bring new service to more than 5,000 previously unserved locations and support reliable broadband for approximately 10,000 rural homes and small businesses.
“Reliable broadband is essential to creating jobs, improving access to healthcare, and making sure West Virginians can build a future in the communities they call home,” said Governor Morrisey. “Public-private partnerships like this are helping us reach communities where the terrain and economics make expansion difficult. By working together, we are connecting more families and businesses while creating new opportunities across rural West Virginia.”
Governor Morrisey joined Armstrong President Jeff Ross, FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty, federal and state partners, and community leaders in Hamlin to mark the broadband milestones.
Armstrong is deploying more than 500 miles of fiber infrastructure through more than $100 million in public and private investment. The work is supported through the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, West Virginia’s Line Extension Advancement and Development (LEAD) Program, and the FCC’s Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model Program, with projects already underway across rural West Virginia.
Bringing broadband to rural communities can be difficult and costly because of West Virginia’s mountainous terrain, long distances between homes and businesses, and limited existing infrastructure. The public-private investments announced today are designed to overcome those challenges and extend reliable service to areas that have been difficult to reach.
“Expanding broadband is about making sure every part of West Virginia can participate in our economic growth,” said Governor Morrisey. “Reliable high-speed internet means better access to jobs, new opportunities for small businesses, more options for healthcare and education, and the ability for more West Virginians to live and work in the communities they call home.”