Tag: Dan O’Hanlon

W.Va. Broadband Council to Disband at End of Year

West Virginia’s Broadband Deployment Council plans to disband at the end of year.

The council is charged with expanding high-speed Internet in the state. The Legislature denied the council’s request this year for another $5 million to provide grants for broadband projects.
 
Without more funding, the council’s chairman, Dan O’Hanlon, tells the Charleston Gazette that there’s nothing left to do except report on past grants.
 
The Legislature allocated $5 million when the council was created five years ago. The council has distributed about $3.7 million in grants.
 
The council also hired a consulting firm to review grant applications and create an online map of broadband service in West Virginia.
 
O’Hanlon says the council has about $800,000 in leftover funds. The money will be spent on project audits and reports.
 

Huntington to Participate in WiFi Pilot Program

Huntington is participating in a pilot program that will give the city free WiFi access for one year.
 
West Virginia Network for Educational Telecomputing director Dan O’Hanlon says the goal is to determine the viability of using unused broadcasting frequencies to provide Internet access to a larger community.
 
O’Hanlon tells The Herald-Dispatch that the technology has been used to provide Internet access at West Virginia University. The Huntington pilot will determine whether it can be done on a larger scale. 

Coverage will be limited to the downtown but it could be expanded.
 
Mayor Steve Williams says city officials will discuss how to pay for the service after the pilot program ends.
 

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