Pocahontas Broadband Counsel Adopts WV Broadband Council’s BEAD Resolution

After a discussion about the restructuring and pause of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, the Pocahontas County Broadband Council voted to sign on to the WV Broadband Council’s petition to support the 1.2 million dollars that had been committed to West Virginia to implement the BEAD Program and to oppose the government’s March 5^th pause to the program. The reason for the pause was to make changes to the program. BEAD is a program by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA,) (a part of the US Department of Commerce.) BEAD had been designed to ensure that every address in America would have access to fast broadband internet.

Some of the changes to the BEAD program, according to the NTIA website, involve eliminating the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) requirements, as well as the climate change requirements. Other changes being made to BEAD include removing prohibitions against data usage caps by providers and eliminating obligations to consult with representatives of various demographic and identity-based interest groups. It was pointed out at the meeting, that while eliminating these may simplify the BEAD approval process, West Virginia has already received their approvals, so the pause just creates another delay for West Virginians to get high speed broadband.

Another change being made to the BEAD program which concerned the council members, is the elimination of the priority given to high-speed fiber over the delivery of broadband by wireless or satellite. While using satellite or wireless delivery might make  the service happen quicker, it would be at the cost of internet speed, since satellite internet speeds are considerably slower than fiber optic speeds.

Annie Stroud pointed out that the recent cancellation of the Digital Equity Act, could also mean that West Virginia might lose 7 million dollars in capacity grants.

Melissa O’Brien asked for people to write to Governor Morrissey about their need for fiber service to their homes, especially since the topography of the state can limit satellite service and/or speed. Our listeners can contact O’Brien at: melissa.obrien@citynet.net, and she is willing to assist them in drafting letters to the governor.

Also at the meeting, Cory Nipper reported on the progress of the ARC Power Grant broadband project. He said there was a pre-bid meeting with three interested contractors, and the bids will be opened and awarded on July 8^th, with construction to begin in October. He said it will take about 6 months from October before service will begin for customers in the grant area.

Melissa O’Brien reported that CityNet will be building their fiber backbone down Seneca Trail from Valley Head to Hillsboro, which will be completed in 2026, with lateral customers near that line being able to receive service from that main line.

Ruthanna Beezley reported that Spruce Knob -Senaca Rocks Company will begin construction on their LEAD project in the Northern County area this fall.

Finally, it was stated that Ryan Krofcheck is working to recreate and move the currently non-functional (due to hacking) Pocahontas Broadband website to the Greenbrier Economic Development Corporation’s website.