The West Virginia Department of Economic Development (WVDED), in coordination with the Office of Broadband and the West Virginia Broadband Enhancement Council, will conduct a BEAD Pre-Application Phase Webinar to review the West Virginia BEAD Program, beginning at 9:00 a.m., February 29, 2024. Registration details are available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/west-virginia-bead-deployment-webinars-and-workshops-series-webinar-1-tickets-841588904067?aff=oddtdtcreator 

The historic BEAD program will fund projects that will expand last-mile broadband service to unserved and underserved locations and eligible Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) throughout West Virginia.

The WVDED Office of Broadband is planning one BEAD grant round. The Pre-Application Phase Webinar will provide key details for participation in West Virginia’s BEAD application process.  Entities interested in seeking BEAD funding for last-mile projects in West Virginia are strongly encouraged to attend. A proposed schedule for online and on-site webinars and workshops is outlined below:

Pre-Application Phase Applicant Outreach Schedule

• February 29: WEBINAR
• March 14: ONSITE WORKSHOP—SOUTH (Charleston, WV) State Capitol Building, Room 124
• March 28: ONSITE WORKSHOP—NORTH (Fairmont, WV) Robert H. Mollohan Research Center, I-79 Technology Park, 1000 Galliher Drive, Fairmont
• April 10: ONLINE WORKSHOP

Full Application Phase Applicant Outreach Schedule

• May 8: WEBINAR
• May 23: ONSITE WORKSHOP—SOUTH (Charleston, WV) State Capitol Building, Room 124
• June 6: ONSITE WORKSHOP—NORTH (Morgantown, WV) WVU Erickson Alumni Center, 1 Alumni Drive, Morgantown
• June 12: ONLINE WORKSHOP

Who should attend?

ISPs and any other entities seeking to expand or provide broadband services to homes, businesses, and CAIs in West Virginia, including cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, public-private partnerships, private companies, public or private utilities, public utility districts, or local governments.

Which sessions should I attend?

The pre-application webinar on 2/29 explains the program, pre-application process, and how to apply for BEAD funding. There will be follow-up online and in-person workshops to address questions. These begin 3/14 and end on 4/10. 

The full application webinar on 5/8 explains the application phase. Follow up workshops will begin 5/3 and end on 6/12.

How do I register for upcoming events?

There will be separate registrations for each event. We encourage participants to register in advance. Please see broadband.wv.gov for future registration information. Email notifications will also be provided.

Final dates subject to pending NTIA Volume 2 approval.

Final dates dependent upon NTIA approval of Initial Proposal Volume 2.