Expanding broadband in WV has been a goal for many at the state and federal level. Many cannot imagine what life would be like without it. Well many in Taylor County can tell you and there are plans for that to change! The Federal Communications Commission has a program called the Connect America Fund. This is a program that awards grant funding to expand access to voice and broadband services to areas that have no service. In WV, Citynet won a bid to receive money to reduce the cost to build fiber infrastructure to parts of five counties. The project will start in Taylor County in 2020 and conclude in 2022. In fact, Citynet engineers are currently in Taylor County doing preliminary work for the project. Approximately 294 households will be able to subscribe to gigabit internet service, telephone, and television service. The new service areas are located south of Rt. 50 and the map can be viewed at usda.gov/reconnect/mapping-tool. Type in 26354 in the eligibility area map and search. Note that in order to reach these no service areas there will be additional households along the path that will have opportunities to purchase connection.

Sincerely,

Delegate Amy Summers (Amy.Summers@wvhouse.gov, 304-641-1159, 98 Meadland Rd., Flemington, WV 26347).