FAIRMONT — The Mountain State is receiving $126.3 million in federal stimulus funding for a proposed statewide broadband infrastructure project.
The state applied for the grant last year. However, formal plans to launch the broadband network actually were begun by Gov. Joe Manchin way back in 2007. The award of the federal stimulus dollars to West Virginia was jointly announced by U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., and U.S. Rep. Nick Joe Rahall, D-W.Va.
Manchin is hoping to have West Virginia wired for broadband access from “border to border.” With a healthy infusion of federal stimulus funds, that dream is now well on its way to reality.
According to Manchin, the broadband project will take the state’s existing technology infrastructure to a whole new level, particular for more rural parts of the state such as southern West Virginia. ...
According to the governor’s office, the project will expand West Virginia’s existing public safety network, and about 2,400 miles of fiber optic cable. 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 opportunity and broadband video applications will be expanded to more than 60 emergency first responders across the state, including several in McDowell and Wyoming counties.
The project is expected to provide affordable broadband service to more than 700,00 households, 110,000 businesses and 1,500 anchor institutions.
We applaud the Manchin administration for its forward thinking on this grant application. Apparently, no other states — including the neighboring Commonwealth of Virginia — bothered to take the steps necessary to apply for a complete statewide grant. Their loss is West Virginia’s gain.
While many will undoubtedly be quick to ask how
many jobs this project will create since federal stimulus dollars are involved, we believe it is a worthy project that does have the potential to not only create new jobs, but also to retain and strengthen existing industry.
In this day and age, existing broadband infrastructure is as critical as roads, water and sewer when it comes to new industry recruitment. By wiring the Mountain State from one border to the next, West Virginia will be in a much better position to attract new jobs and high-tech industry while also enhancing its existing education and health care system.
— Bluefield (W.Va.) Daily Telegraph
This editorial does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Times West Virginian editorial board.
