WASHINGTON, D.C. (WVDN) – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced significant broadband investment funding for projects in Hampshire, Hardy, and Nicholas counties. These grants, which were secured through U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development ReConnect program, will support two high-speed broadband infrastructure projects that will create or improve rural broadband for thousands of people.
“Through my role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, I was able to help craft the ReConnect program because I knew how critical closing the digital divide was to inspire economic growth in rural West Virginia and rural America. Throughout my time in the Senate, I’ve supported ReConnect because it specifically addresses the unique difficulties that accompany broadband deployment in rural areas and is specifically equipped to tackle those issues head-on. This announcement will help connect West Virginians to reliable service, and I was proud to partner with the USDA to get it done. This is another step in my goal of connecting every last West Virginian home, school, and business. I look forward to seeing these projects completed,” Senator Capito said.
Individual grant details are below:
- $12,435,000 USDA Rural Development ReConnect grant to the Nicholas County Commission (Summersville, W.Va.) to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet. This network will benefit more than 6,000 people, over 100 businesses, over 100 farms, and multiple educational facilities in Nicholas County in West Virginia.
- $5,523,659 USDA Rural Development ReConnect grant to Hardy Telecommunications, Inc. (Lost River, W.Va.) to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet. This network will benefit more than 1,400 people, dozens of businesses, and a number of farms in Hampshire and Hardy counties in West Virginia.
BACKGROUND:
Senator Capito helped create the ReConnect program in 2018, and she also has worked to secure funds for it in every subsequent appropriations bill. Through her Capito Connect initiative, Senator Capito has made improving connectivity and closing the digital divide in West Virginia a top priority and has worked to advance efforts and deliver resources to support programs like ReConnect.
In March 2018, Congress provided $600 million to USDA to expand broadband infrastructure and services in rural America. In December 2018, Agriculture Secretary Perdue announced the rules of the ReConnect program, including how the loans and grants will be awarded to help build broadband infrastructure in rural America. USDA received 146 applications between May 31, 2019, and July 12, 2019, requesting $1.4 billion in funding across all three ReConnect Program funding products: 100 percent loan, 100 percent grant, and loan-grant combinations. USDA is reviewing applications and announcing approved projects on a rolling basis.
These grants, loans and combination funds enable the federal government to partner with the private sector and rural communities to build modern broadband infrastructure in areas with insufficient internet service. Insufficient service is defined as connection speeds of less than 10 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 1 Mbps upload.
The ReConnect Program also received $2 billion in the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act, which Senator Capito helped craft.
In October of last year, Senator Capito spoke at the West Virginia Broadband Summit about her efforts to expand rural broadband in West Virginia.
In August, Senator Capito attended the dedication ceremony of a successful USDA ReConnect broadband project in Wetzel County.
In May, Senator Capito announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) had approved $32,235,629 to the West Virginia Department of Economic Development to provide matching funds for the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, funded through the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA).
Click here to learn more about the ReConnect program.
