U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) held a broadband roundtable in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, bringing together Arielle Roth, Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), along with federal and state officials, internet service providers, and community leaders from across the state.
The discussion focused on the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Participants addressed local broadband needs and considered ways to expand access throughout West Virginia. Senator Capito emphasized her commitment to improving broadband infrastructure by fostering cooperation between federal and state agencies to fully implement BEAD.
“I was proud to welcome Administrator Arielle Roth to West Virginia today and give her the opportunity to share updates on the BEAD program with our partners in the state. Improving broadband access has long been a top priority of mine and it’s why I worked hard to secure key funding for West Virginia in BEAD. I believe this funding will be a game changer and get just about every West Virginian connected. I look forward to continuing to work with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Administrator Roth, and state leaders to bridge the digital divide in West Virginia,” Senator Capito said.
“After years of delays by the Biden administration, NTIA is proud to be moving forward on the BEAD program and delivering the ‘Benefit of the Bargain’ for Americans,” said Administrator Roth. “It was an honor to join Senator Capito and local stakeholders to discuss the next stage of the program and NTIA’s commitment to closing connectivity gaps in West Virginia once and for all.”
The roundtable served as an opportunity for various stakeholders in West Virginia’s broadband expansion efforts to share perspectives on challenges facing their communities.
