Broadband will be getting a boost in five southern West Virginia counties.
About 22,000 households in Raleigh, Wyoming, Mercer, McDowell and Summers counties will be connected to broadband with a $25 million grant.
The grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunication and Information Administration will enable Appalachian Power to build out middle mile infrastructure.
The grant follows another $20 million grant from the same program that expands service to 12,000 households in Logan and Mingo counties.
Both grants were enabled by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito were involved in crafting the law and securing the grant funding through the Appropriations Committee.
Appalachian Power is an underwriter of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.