West Virginians excluded from broadband upgrades under new plan

Thousands of West Virginians will be left without improved broadband access under the state’s newly finalized $1.2 billion broadband expansion plan. Despite assurances of progress, the plan excludes roughly 40,000 households - impacting around 100,000 residents - leaving them reliant on slower and less reliable internet services.

"We are excited about the opportunity to bring broadband to every corner of our state and help every West Virginian reach their full potential", Governor Patrick Morrisey said when announcing the finalized plan. However, many residents living in areas served by fixed wireless internet will not benefit from the upgrades.

Federal Reclassification Reduces Eligible Households

The exclusion stems from a federal decision earlier this year to reclassify homes using fixed wireless internet as "served" if providers claim to meet minimum speed requirements. This reclassification slashed the number of West Virginia households eligible for federal funding under the Broadband Equity and Access Deployment (BEAD) program by more than a third - from 114,000 to 74,000.

For affected families, this change does not translate to improved service. Instead, it means their slower and less reliable connections are now deemed adequate. Fixed wireless signals, often delivered via cell towers or local antennas, face challenges in a state where mountainous terrain and dense tree cover disrupt connectivity. Many fixed wireless connections offer speeds between 25–50 megabit downloads and 10–25 megabit uploads, far below the faster and more reliable speeds delivered by fiber-optic networks.

"Fiber-based internet is the better long-term solution for broadband in the state because of West Virginia’s topography", said Bill Bissett, chairman of the West Virginia Broadband Enhancement Council.

Shift to Technology-Neutral Approach

The new plan embraces a technology-neutral approach rather than prioritizing fiber-optic infrastructure. This change allows fixed wireless, cable, and satellite providers to compete for federal broadband funding. Starlink, a satellite internet provider owned by SpaceX, is one of the beneficiaries, despite concerns over its inconsistent speeds and loss of federal subsidies in recent years. West Virginia has allocated 1% of its federal broadband funds to Starlink.

"There are trees and hills and mountains, and that makes fixed wireless of any type and satellite internet challenging for a lot of locations", said Annie Stroud, broadband program director at Generation West Virginia.

Budget Leaves Funds Unused

The BEAD program was designed not only to connect communities to the internet but to ensure equitable access to high-speed broadband essential for work, education, and healthcare. Critics argue that West Virginia’s plan falls short of this goal. The state plans to use only about half of the federal funds available, with most of the financing going to major providers like Citynet, Frontier, and Comcast. Drew Galang, a spokesperson for the governor’s office, stated that the remaining funds would be allocated to expanding cell phone coverage.

The state’s initial proposal reportedly offered a more ambitious vision, aiming to supply all homes with future-proof broadband while staying under budget. "It’s like pulling a goal post toward you and claiming a touchdown", said Evan Feinman, who oversaw the BEAD program for the Biden administration.

As the plan moves forward, many residents in underserved areas remain uncertain about when - or if - they will see meaningful improvements in their internet access. For now, questions persist about how effectively the state’s approach will bridge the digital divide in a region where reliable broadband is increasingly vital.

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