CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) – Today, Governor Patrick Morrisey announced that West Virginia has submitted its Final Proposal for Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding.
“I’ve just recently submitted an application, our final application, to the Trump administration to bring broadband coverage to 74,000 new locations in West Virginia,” said Governor Morrisey. “This is really exciting and arguably the biggest economic development initiative we’ve seen in West Virginia’s history. It has the potential to transform the Mountain State – a major investment in digital infrastructure. And we’ll be able to better connect so many thousands of West Virginians to each other.
“But it also helps so many West Virginians with what you’re trying to do every day. It might be that you’re looking for new telehealth opportunities to take better care of yourself and get the health care that you need. Those in rural areas very much need and depend upon telehealth. It could be that you’re trying to provide additional help to your kids – that seventh grader that’s looking for extra tutoring and needs help to access information online. Or, you could just be getting together on that Thursday or Friday night looking to have movie night, or have streamed video where, in the past, you wouldn’t get it in these rural areas.
“This is a really big deal for the Mountain State. I’m excited to announce it, and I’m thrilled to thank our federal delegation and our whole team for all the work that’s been put in. Now we continue to go, and I’m going to continue to press the Trump administration to finalize this and bring so much new goodness and economic development. Economic development is our top priority here in West Virginia – we’re going to keep going. And I’m so happy to bring this news to you.”
The Final Proposal follows requirements outlined in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice, released June 6, 2025. This policy notice created a new 90-day clock ending September 4, 2025, for all states to submit their BEAD Final Proposals. The Notice contained several elements of the BEAD Program, including:
- Reduction in subgrantee requirements
- Technology-neutral approach for meeting program service standards
- Additional “Benefit of the Bargain Round” prioritizing low-cost projects
West Virginia worked closely with the Trump administration to be in compliance with the terms of NTIA’s BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice, as reflected in its Final Proposal.
Following a process that accounted for non-broadband serviceable locations, locations already included in ongoing projects, and locations that have recently gained access to broadband, nearly 74,000 locations in West Virginia are eligible for BEAD funding. The BEAD provisional awardees are:
- Armstrong – $12,664,104.27 to provide fiber technology to 1,014 locations.
- Citynet – $229,226,686.94 to provide fiber technology to 26,353 locations.
- Comcast – $61,293,220 to provide fiber technology to 5,493 locations.
- Frontier – $209,291,933.38 to provide fiber technology to 24,386 locations.
- GigaBeam – $23,416,440 to provide fiber technology to 3,552 locations.
- Hardy – $7,939,550 to provide fiber technology to 456 locations.
- Micrologic – $52,884,440.28 to provide fiber technology to 5,987 locations.
- Prodigy – $21,576,576 to provide fiber technology to 2,219 locations.
- Space X (Starlink) – $6,162,710.75 to provide low earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology to 4,100 locations.
Final BEAD awards are subject to NTIA approval – and the NTIA has indicated that it will review Final Proposals within 90 days.
West Virginia’s process has resulted in substantial cost savings and will require subgrants that total only approximately half of the $1.21 billion allocated to West Virginia for BEAD under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). NTIA is reviewing other allowable uses and will issue updated guidance in the future. West Virginia looks forward to the opportunity to respond with initiatives that will deepen the impact of these investments.
Please visit broadband.wv.gov for additional program updates as they become available and other information.
