Wetzel County, West Virginia — Wetzel County reached a major milestone Thursday as internet service will now be provided to an additional 2,000 homes in the county.
For the first time, CityNet will expand service to an 87-mile section along Routes 20 and 7 in West Virginia.
Two-thirds of the county is now connected to the World Wide Web, including one health center and nine community facilities.
The project, which is being undertaken by the Wetzel County Commission and the Regional Economic Development Partnership, has a total value of $4.2 million.
The project took five years to complete, but USDA Rural Development Administrator Ryan Thorne said the wait to “hook up the fiber optics” is finally over.
“In today’s world, high-speed internet is a necessity, not a luxury,” Thorne said. “It’s essential for learning, making telehealth appointments, working, and even the simplest luxuries that some of us take for granted, like watching a movie with the family on Netflix.”
A few years ago, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito noticed a huge unmet need in the county and spoke out that something had to be done.
“When we started working with Capito Connect, we saw a lack of connectivity to homes and businesses that really put West Virginia at a disadvantage.”
The Wetzel County Commission is preparing for economic growth in the area with this added connection.
“With faster, more reliable internet, local businesses will thrive,” said Commissioner Lisa Heasley. “It will also create jobs and stimulate economic growth.”
But the real impact starts at home, where we can support better education in all areas, with connections spanning five educational institutions.
“If you have a sick child, if they don’t get a signal, they can’t catch up and they fall behind. Again, it’s an equity issue,” Capito said.
Capito added that there is another $1 billion broadband infrastructure plan in the works at the federal level that would bring broadband to every home in West Virginia, making West Virginia the first state in the nation to do so if passed.
