Monongalia County (WV) looking to spend the last of its ARPA broadband funds

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In a quarterly update to the Monongalia County (WV) Commission, Comcast Compliance Manager Dana Gossert explained the design of a $17.8 million broadband expansion project is expected to be complete in 2024. The project will bring broadband to 2,175 unserved and underserved homes and businesses in all areas of Monongalia County. It’s the result of a public/private partnership announced in June between the county and Comcast through which the commission will provide $5.98 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars and the Internet service provider will pick up the remaining $11,840,000 in an effort to bring large swaths of the county online. While the aim of the broadband project is to get as many residents up to speed as possible over the next two years, it’s not going to get everyone. To that end, the commission has issued a request for proposals for a second, smaller project looking to fill in the gaps, or, as Commission President Sean Sikora described them, the donut holes.  The commission is putting up $1.25 million in ARPA funds for the effort. Because ARPA dollars must be obligated by the end of the year, the commission is asking for RFP responses by Nov. 13 and intends to award the project on Dec. 11.


County looking to spend the last of its ARPA broadband funds