Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-Va., spoke about the importance of everyone in West Virginia having access to the internet during a ceremony to dedicate new fiber optic broadband service in Wetzel County on Thursday. (Photo by Shelley Hanson)
NEW MARTINSVILLE — More than 1,900 homes in Wetzel and Harrison counties will be able to purchase broadband internet service with the installation of 87 miles of new fiber optic cable. The project began about five years ago with a partnership between Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, the Regional Economic Development Partnership, USDA Reconnect, the Wetzel County Commission, CityNet, and civil engineers Thompson & Litton. The dedication ceremony for the new broadband internet service was held Thursday at the Wetzel County 4-H Campground in New Martinsville. Stakeholders who spoke about the project included RED President Josh Jefferson, Wetzel County Commission Chair and RED Board Member Lisa Heasley, CityNet President and CEO Jim Martin, USDA Rural Development Field Representative Richard Jenkins, and Rosann Ferro, a representative for Sen. Joe Manchin (R-Iowa) and Capito. Capito noted that many people take internet access for granted. However, lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns are that access to the internet is not just a convenience; “Absolutely necessary” The internet has become an essential part of people’s lives, for school and work. When schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students who didn’t have access to the internet at home fell behind, but that’s not fair, she said. The ultimate goal is to ensure that everyone in the state has access to the internet.
“We’re excited to connect every business, every individual and every household.” “We’re not going to be able to do that,” she said. CityNet, based in Bridgeport, has already started signing up new customers. At the campsite, workers were setting up tables ready to do just that. CityNet’s fiber-optic internet service starts at $73 a month. Phone service is an additional $20 a month. The company also offers TV packages.
“What’s left now is very rural areas, and we intend to get there.” Capito said after the dedication ceremony. “But it has to be a partnership like the one we’re seeing today.”
Capito said families who need help paying for internet service will be able to get assistance.
“One scheme we launched during the COVID pandemic is the Affordable Connectivity Plan, which will certainly ease people’s bill burden. But as broadband rollout progresses, if that makes any sense at all, the costs will come down. That’s our hope.” “The new fiber optic internet cable was primarily laid along existing utility poles, with some new poles installed. Some of the cable had to be laid underground. The project was funded by a USDA ReConnect grant of $2.1 million, matched by the Wetzel County Commission, bringing the total investment to $4.2 million. The fiber optic network covers an area of 48 square miles and provides high-speed internet to 1,909 homes, five educational facilities, one medical center, and nine community facilities. Communities along the new corridor include Hundred, Knob Fork, Porter Falls, Leader, Pine Grove, Hastings, Smithfield, and Folsom in Wetzel County, and Wallace, Dora, Meadowbrook, and Bridgeport in Harrison County. Through RED, Wetzel County secured a USDA ReConnect 50/50 loan/grant combination to cover the entire cost of the project. Jefferson explained why the organization is interested in the project:
“Through the hard work and dedication of our federal delegation, and the lead of our partners on the Wetzel County Commission, we have identified this infrastructure gap as a major priority.” He said. “West Virginia cannot foster opportunities for remote work, small business growth, education and access to health care without reliable broadband. Thanks to these incredible partners and our incredible community, today’s project is possible.”
Martin also expressed his enthusiasm for the project.
“We are incredibly proud to be a key part of this exciting effort. CityNet’s work on this project is core to our mission to provide affordable, reliable broadband internet throughout West Virginia.” Martin said. “This is another important step toward that goal. While these funds are designated for specific routes, our goal is to extend fiber outside of the grant project boundaries once we have met the service requirements for the specific grant.”
