Mountain State Times

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito has announced substantial funding for broadband expansion in West Virginia's rural areas. The funds, secured through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development ReConnect program, are aimed at enhancing internet connectivity in Hampshire, Hardy, and Nicholas counties.

Senator Capito emphasized her role in crafting the ReConnect program as part of her work on the Senate Appropriations Committee. "Through my role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, I was able to help craft the ReConnect program because I knew how critical closing the digital divide was to inspire economic growth in rural West Virginia and rural America," she stated.

The announcement includes two major grants: a $12,435,000 grant to Nicholas County Commission for deploying a fiber-to-the-premises network that will serve over 6,000 residents and various businesses and educational facilities; and a $5,523,659 grant to Hardy Telecommunications, Inc., which will benefit more than 1,400 people in Hampshire and Hardy counties.

Senator Capito played a key role in establishing the ReConnect program in 2018 and has consistently worked to secure funding for it through subsequent appropriations bills. Her initiative aims to improve connectivity across West Virginia by addressing challenges unique to broadband deployment in rural regions.

The USDA received numerous applications for funding under the ReConnect program after Congress allocated $600 million for expanding broadband infrastructure in March 2018. The program continues to receive support through additional investments such as those from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Senator Capito has been actively involved in efforts related to rural broadband expansion. She participated in events like the West Virginia Broadband Summit last October and attended a dedication ceremony for a USDA ReConnect project earlier this year.