WVDED Office of Broadband BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 Public Meeting
Thu, Nov 16
|Petersburg
The West Virginia Department of Economic Development, Office of Broadband, (WVDED), published the BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 for review and comment. WVDED seeks public comment to ensure that this document reflects the needs of West Virginians.
Time & Location
Nov 16, 2023, 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Petersburg, 131 Providence Ln, Petersburg, WV 26847, USA
About the event
DO NOT RSVP for this event here. To RSVP, contact Carla Dent at cdent@regioneight.org or (304) 257-1221.
West Virginia Office of Broadband publishes BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 for public comment
The West Virginia Department of Economic Development, Office of Broadband, (WVDED), published the BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 for review and comment. Comments will be accepted for 30 days, beginning October 20, 2023. The document is available here.
The WVDED in partnership with Region 8 Planning and Development Council will host a public meeting to provide details about the Initial Proposal Volume 2 on November 16, 2023 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Region 8 PDC office, 131 Providence Lane, Petersburg, WV 26847.
Volume 2 follows the requirements of the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) to address the following topics: Local coordination, subgrantee selection for deployment and non-deployment, implementation activities, labor standards, workforce readiness, provisions for minority and women owned businesses, cost and barrier reduction, climate assessment, low-cost broadband service, regulatory issues, middle class affordability, and other components as required by NTIA.
The WVDED and the Regional Planning and Development Councils have previously collaborated on multiple broadband planning initiatives and performed public outreach meetings earlier this year. This meeting will also provide general updates on the State’s BEAD and Digital Equity Programs.
The WVDED is responsible for deploying local and federal broadband funds, including $1.2 billion in federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding for broadband development in West Virginia. BEAD is administered by NTIA. The BEAD application requires several steps: a Five-Year Action Plan, Initial Proposal Volume I, Initial Proposal Volume 2, followed by a Final Proposal. The BEAD Program also requires states to coordinate efforts with Digital Equity planning, workforce development, and capacity building.
Public Comment Sought
WVDED seeks public comment to ensure that this document reflects the needs of West Virginians. All members of the public are encouraged to provide feedback on the contents of the Initial Proposal Volume 2 via:
● Online Comment Form, found here.
● Printable Comment Form, which can be printed here and mailed to the WVDED at 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Building 3, Room 600, Charleston, West Virginia 25305. Comments must be postmarked by November 20, 2023.
● Copies of the Initial Proposal Volume 2 will be available at each of the State’s 11 Regional Planning and Development Councils (RPDCs).