“This is the next official step in our partnership with Comcast to bring high-speed Internet to some of the most rural communities in West Virginia. My Billion-Dollar Broadband Strategy is creating partnerships like this with Comcast to bring the best in Internet service across the state, and I am excited to continue our work in expanding connectivity in West Virginia.”
– Jim Justice, Governor, West Virginia
WHAT’S NEW?
On December 7, 2022, Gov. Jim Justice announced West Virginia’s Line Extension Advancement and Development (LEAD) program grants for Comcast to begin construction to connect more than 2,100 unserved homes and businesses across the state.
Construction will begin in January and the entire project is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. The $10 million project is enabled in part by a $7.5 million state grant to provide more residents in Brooke, Cabell, Hancock, Morgan, Ohio, and Putnam counties with access to Comcast’s smart, fast and reliable fiber network. Comcast also partnered with the state for the Major Broadband Project Strategies (MBPS) program to connect even more homes and businesses in Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, and Ohio Counties in 2023.
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Expanding broadband access to unserved rural communities and working to close the digital divide continues to be a priority for Comcast across the nation – including in West Virginia.
This expansion will add almost 200 additional route miles of fiber to connect unserved residents to the full suite of Xfinity residential and Comcast Business services, including broadband Internet speeds of up to 1.2 gigabits per second (Gbps) for residences and up to 100 Gbps for businesses.
HOW ELSE IS COMCAST INVESTING IN WEST VIRGINIA?
Comcast’s recent community partnerships in West Virginia have totaled $4.4 million in cash and in-kind contributions to 50 local non-profits over the last three years. This investment includes the installation of 10 Lift Zones, which provide free WiFi service to local community centers to promote digital learning. Lift Zones are part of Project UP, Comcast’s comprehensive $1 billion commitment to help build a future of unlimited possibilities and the continuation of the company’s long history of giving back to communities where it provides service and where its employees live and work.
“We’re proud to partner with the state of West Virginia to extend our advanced broadband service to more than 2,100 unserved residents. These partnerships bolster the tens of millions of dollars Comcast invests in West Virginia every year to connect residents and businesses to our smart, fast, and reliable network. Technology and connectivity are powerful tools to help increase innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth, and we’re excited to partner with the state to help consumers participate fully in the digital economy.”
– Terry Ellis, Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs at Comcast Cable.
To read more on Comcast’s partnership with Governor Justice to connect more rural residents to high-speed Internet in West Virginia, go here.
