CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), both members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that Regional Optical Communications (ROC) in Princeton, West Virginia, will receive a $300,000 grant through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for the West Virginia Multi-Region Broadband Projects (Mbps) Accelerator Project. In addition to ARC funds, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is contributing $1.2 million to the project, bringing total project funding to $1.5 million.
“The Mbps project will support broadband development in West Virginia by pinpointing areas lacking quality service and getting them the resources they need to advance critical projects,” Ranking Member Capito said. “This is an exciting investment, and I appreciate ARC’s commitment to help local partners like ROC close the digital divide in West Virginia.”
“Every West Virginian needs reliable, affordable broadband access to compete in the 21st Century economy. We know that at least 258,000 West Virginians have no broadband access and we think that number is likely much higher, which is why I am pleased ARC and EDA are investing $1.5 million to support Regional Optical Communications for the West Virginia Multi-Region Broadband Accelerator Project in Mercer County. I look forward to seeing the positive impacts of this project to expand broadband access, and I will continue to work with ARC, EDA and other organizations to expand broadband access across the Mountain State as we work to implement the $600 million in broadband expansion that West Virginia is set to receive through my bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” Senator Manchin said.
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