West Virginia MetroNews

West Virginia is on the verge of a $1.2 billion federally funded broadband buildout but that expansion may be held up by a problem that’s been around for years. The state Broadband Enhancement Council is considering officially intervening in a case before the state Public Service Commission involving First Energy and Frontier Communications about pole attachments. State Broadband Office Director Kelly Workman told the council that pole agreements are “our biggest source of delay in (American Rescue Plan Act) funding projects so far.” “Costs have gone up exponentially the last three years co

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai says he believes there will be enough companies to bid on broadband work in West Virginia at the end of Oct to bring new service to un-served areas. “I think these companies have a very strong interest in deploying very quickly and if we give them the money, we give them the tools, they will connect West Virginians as soon as they possibly can,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said. A FCC-sponsored reverse auction is scheduled to start Oct. 29 in connection with the agency’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF).

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) submitted a formal challenge to the Federal Communications Commission's Mobility Fund Phase II initial eligible areas map, the only lawmaker to do so. He argued the map does not accurately show broadband coverage in West Virginia. “Rural areas were getting screwed, and all of West Virginia was getting screwed because these big-time carriers were showing, ‘Oh, this is our area. We’ve got it taken care of, don’t worry,'” he said. “They’re only going to go into areas where they know that they’re going to have a return on an investment.