Actual Construction for the ARC Broadband Project Should Begin in April, 2025
At the December 12th Pocahontas County Broadband Council meeting, Brian TEW and Cory Nipper of the Thompson and Litton Company said that the ARC Broadband Project’s environmental notification and public comment period ends on 12-13-24, with no comments having been received. The documentation of that will be sent to the WV Broadband Office for their review and approval. Once that is complete the construction of the project can go out to bid, which will probably be in February, with actual construction beginning in April 2025.
Regarding the WV Line Extension and Development Project, known as LEAD, CityNet and the Spruce Knob Seneca Rocks Company (SKSR) are both working on that project, with CityNet doing backbone engineering and field work and SKSR doing fieldwork, design and permitting. All LEAD projects must be completed by June, 2026.
Regarding the Federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment broadband program (BEAD,) the internet service provider (ISP) plan for Pocahontas County has been prepared. After a public comment period has been offered, it can be submitted to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) hopefully in April. That program is designed to provide broadband service to all addresses which are not otherwise receiving or scheduled to receive adequate broadband service under any other Federal, State or private internet program, in other words, BEAD will provide broadband service to any “left out” or underserved addresses.
Ruthana Beezley reported that Frontier Communications sent representative to the December 3rd County Commission meeting. They assured the commissioners that even though actual construction of their Rural Development Opportunity Fund (RDOF) projects in the areas they bid on and won in Pocahontas County have not yet started, they have been doing the permitting and planning for it. They said actual construction will begin this spring, and Verizon, which is buying Frontier in about 18 months, has committed to completing all of Frontier’s ARDOF commitments in accordance with the FCC’s required timetable.
Sarah Riley commented that Frontier appearing before the commission was the “biggest step forward in three years.”
Mike Holstine commented that the Frontier Representatives “did a good job answering questions, but there is still mistrust.”
Ruthana Beezley said, “sounds good, but we will see.”
Annie Stroud informed the council that additional BEAD Equity programs, such as providing digital devices and providing digital skills training will be accepting applications in February.
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