2/18/2010
WHEELING, W.Va. - Gov. Joe Manchin today learned the State of West Virginia will receive more than $126.3 million worth of federal stimulus funds for the Statewide Broadband Infrastructure Project. The state applied for the grant last year, but formal plans to improve West Virginia’s high-speed Internet access began under the Manchin administration in 2007.
“More than three years ago, I announced that our goal is to have West Virginia wired for broadband access from border to border, and with today’s stimulus funding announcement, our dream is well on its way to reality,” Manchin said. “I consider the direction we take from today’s announcement just as significant as upgrading from the telegraph to the telephone, or going from a two-lane road to an Interstate highway system.”
The governor said the broadband project will take the state’s technology infrastructure to a new level, particularly for the more rural parts of West Virginia. “This project is not just about technology; it’s about providing better public safety, broadening our health care technology, and enhancing and delivering a better education system,” the governor said.
West Virginia was the only state in the nation to apply for a complete statewide grant, which would not have happened without a lot of hard work, preparation and the expertise of Cisco Systems Chairman and CEO John Chambers, Manchin said. “Our own very talented people put this application together and they consulted with top experts in the field, including John Chambers, to make this a workable, successful plan.
“The dream we had in 2007 to expand broadband access statewide by 2010 is more realistic now because of the hard work of our team and the work with Cisco’s assistance. The state has been rewarded extremely handsomely to move our state forward in the 21st century.”
West Virginia received the full funding request from its application.
The announcement was made by U.S. Department of Commerce Sec. Gary Locke, who joined U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, Reps. Nick Rahall and Alan Mollohan and National Telecommunications and Information Administration Administrator Larry Strickling in presenting the grant.
Plans for the project include bringing high-speed Internet access to the region by expanding the state’s existing microwave public safety network and adding about 2,400 miles of fiber. As a result, every K-12 school in the state will have a high-speed internet connection. In addition, access to health-care, distance learning opportunities and broadband video applications for emergency first-responders will be greatly expanded.
The project intends to spur affordable broadband service that would affect more than 700,000 households, 110,000 businesses and 1,500 anchor institutions by allowing local Internet service providers to connect to the project’s open network.
The governor said broadband infrastructure is just as important as sewer and water, and that is why he created the Broadband Deployment Council in 2008. Manchin credited the council and administration staff, including Jimmy Gianato, director of the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Kelley Goes, Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Commerce and Lt. Col. (Ret.) Mike Todorovich from the West Virginia National Guard, for their hard work on this application.
“I am extremely grateful to Sen. Rockefeller, our entire Congressional delegation, and all the individuals involved in making this tremendous broadband expansion possible,” Manchin said. “So many organizations and businesses have committed themselves to the project, and are looking forward to seeing the final results of their efforts and the enormous impact this will have on our state.”
Contact Information
Jama Jarrett or Melvin Smith
304-558-2000