The West Virginia Department of Economic Development, Office of Broadband, (“WVDED”), is pleased to provide the BEAD Target Areas for review and comment. Comments will be accepted until Friday, April 5. 

The WVDED is tasked with 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. BEAD is administered by the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (“NTIA”). This historic investment in broadband infrastructure and related digital inclusion efforts will support West Virginia’s universal broadband access vision to, “Achieve universal broadband coverage and digital equity throughout the State through aggressive broadband deployment goals and a commitment to closing the digital divide through robust equity and inclusion initiatives.”

Target Areas are a pre-defined groupings of Target Locations (BDC Fabric locations). Nearby Target Areas are further grouped into Target Regions. Applicants will use the Target Areas to form their applications according to Section 4.1. of the draft BEAD Deployment Procedures. Due to the BEAD Challenge Process currently underway, these locations are subject to change. 

Target Areas can be downloaded here: https://get.massive.io/01HRQJFTK4VYT0X7ZJ2JRDTZ66?secret=JWBgDBPEdzxfehTL. Only Location IDs are available for target locations. Potential participants in the BEAD Program must obtain a Tier D license from CostQuest. Please obtain the Fabric vintage for 12/31/2022. Additional information on the Target Areas can be found here: https://broadband.wv.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/WV-BEAD-Target-Area-Maps-Data-Background-2024.03.07.pdf

Thank you for your interest in West Virginia’s BEAD Program. Please complete this form on or before April 5, 2024.

Public Commnet Form – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeU7Q5QkpchKGwR_44cfCJ5g-WotUfvQM75p0YNs1QXdMvoDg/viewform?usp=sf_link