Senator Rockefeller, Governor Manchin announce $130 million federal stimulus grant to improve broaband across West Virginia [Feb-18-2010] ROCKEFELLER JOINED U.S. COMMERCE SECRETARY LOCKE TO ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $130 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR IMPROVED BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS FOR WEST VIRGINIA Charleston, W.Va. – Senator Jay Rockefeller today joined U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, NTIA Administrator Larry Strickling, Governor Manchin, Congressman Mollohan, and Congressman Rahall to announce more than $130 million in funding for broadband internet access for West Virginia.  Senator Rockefeller is Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee which oversees broadband initiatives.   “This major funding is a real game-changer for West Virginia—I cannot overstate how many lives are going to be impacted and how thrilled I am to make this announcement with Secretary Locke and Administrator Strickling,” said Rockefeller. “This funding is about universal access to the internet so that no West Virginian is ever left behind.  This is about staying competitive at a time when nations around the globe have invested billions in state-of-the-art technology.  And most importantly, this is about creating much needed, good paying high-tech jobs and economic growth—precisely the type of long-term investment I fight for every day for every West Virginian.”   Background   As Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee which oversees broadband initiatives, Senator Rockefeller worked with the Obama Administration to develop a $4.7 billion program as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) designed to improve broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas, expand public computer center capacity, and encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service.    The broadband project funded today will:   ·         Provide every K-12 school in the state with a high-speed Internet connection ·         Upgrade Internet access significantly at an estimated 471 schools, 176 public libraries, 53 Public Safety Answering Points, 184 telemedicine sites, 34 jails, 11 Planning and Development Councils, 55 county courthouses, and the Green Bank research observatory  ·         Spur affordable broadband service for more than 700,000 households and 110,000 businesses in the state http://rockefeller.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=322321 Back to News