Digital Equity for all West Virginians
Telecommunications industry leaders and state and federal officials, meeting October 22-23 in Charleston for the 2024 West Virginia Broadband Summit, expressed optimism as the federal government’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program promises to deliver high-speed service to the state’s unserved and underserved areas.
The West Virginia Office of Broadband established the Digital Equity Program to help all West Virginians adopt of high-speed Internet “regardless of their background, their needs, or where they live,” the West Virginia Department of Economic Development (WVDED) said in published material.
Derek Zelkowski, digital equity coordinator in WVDED, said the Digital Equity Program is scheduled to start in 2025.
A website described the program this way: “Through Internet for All West Virginia, the WV Office of Broadband, WV Broadband Enhancement Council, and our partners will join with residents, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and numerous partners to develop West Virginia’s Digital Equity Plan and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Five-Year Action Plan as directed by the NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration).”
Zelkowski said the goal is to expand the program into many areas of the state and address public access to broadband and citizens’ ability to acquire and use digital devices.
Information about the program is available online at internetforallwv.wv.gov.
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