The West Virginia Department of Economic Development, Office of Broadband, (WVDED), has published the BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 for review and comment.  Comments will be accepted through November 20, 2023. The document is available here: https://broadband.wv.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/WV-BEAD-IPv2-2023.10.20-DRAFT-FOR-PUBLIC-COMMENT.pdf.

The WVDED will host a public meeting to provide details about the Initial Proposal Volume 2 on Monday, October 30, 2023, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., at the Summersville Arena & Conference Center, 3 Armory Way, Summersville, West Virginia, 26651. Additional meetings will be conducted by the State’s Regional Planning and Development Councils.

Volume 2 follows the requirements of the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) to address local coordination, subgrantee selection for deployment and non-deployment, implementation activities, labor standards, workforce readiness, provisions for minority and women owned businesses, cost and barrier reduction, climate assessment, low-cost broadband service, regulatory issues, middle class affordability, and other components as required by NTIA.

The WVDED is responsible for 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.

Public Comment Sought

WVDED seeks public comment to ensure that this document reflects the needs of West Virginians. All members of the public are encouraged to provide feedback on the contents of the Initial Proposal Volume 2 via:

• Online Comment Form, found here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_Wwjwx411t6SGruSDS4529uyj6e24zHUjYPGPZDxHddYGUA/viewform.
• Printable Comment Form, which can be printed here: https://broadband.wv.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IPv2-Public-Comment-Form-2023.10.16.pdf and mailed to the WVDED at 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Building 3, Room 600, Charleston, West Virginia 25305. Comments must be postmarked by November 20, 2023. 
• Copies of the Initial Proposal Volume 2 will be available at each of the State’s 11 Regional Planning and Development Councils (RPDCs). The RPDCs are also coordinating local meetings.

The BEAD program 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.”