Initial broadband project identified in western Monongalia County
Jul. 7—MORGANTOWN — A vertical swath of western Monongalia County has been identified as the initial focus of the county's broadband effort.
Mike Fortney, who represents MECCA 911 on the county's broadband working group, described the area known as Ring 11 during a Wednesday work session.
"It runs the [WV ]-218 corridor, drops down into Fairview, goes to Blacksville and back up across Miracle Run, " he said.
The Monongalia County Commission has a comprehensive broadband plan in hand that divides the county into 14 individual rings, or broadband projects.
When asked to explain why Ring 11 was selected to be the first of those projects constructed, the answer was simple—need.
"We keep talking about Ring 11, and Ring 11 is one of the rings in the western end of the county that seems to be the most optimal first step, " Commissioner Sean Sikora said. "We're going to a place where there's nothing and providing something."
It was explained that work on this initial project would likely begin around March.
For each of these rings, the county plans to build what is known as the "middle mile, " infrastructure to which Internet service providers can connect to provide the "final mile " connection to homes and businesses.
In the case of Ring 11, however, a pilot project will also connect between 150-200 homes to the fiber network.
"Because we're going into an area where there's nothing, the cost to the home would probably be too much to get any of your traditional ISPs to come in—though some might—but we're anticipating that we might have to stand up an ISP to actually provide that service, " Sikora said.
Chris Miller, with consulting firm Ice Miller, said two other projects in the western end—Rings 7 and 9—would also likely be high on pecking order.
Right now, the focus is on engineering, funding and the creation of a county broadband authority.
The county has earmarked about $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to build out middle mile infrastructure across the county. Initial estimates put the cost of doing so at about $25 million, though that number is thought to be low.
Sikora said the county intends to look at all possible funding sources to get the projects done and wants to be shovel ready if and when funds are available.
"Our state, in particular, has a $1.3 billion surplus. There may be a lot of dollars that actually come available for stuff like this, and we'll be certainly ready, " he said. "I believe once we get started on one ring and can prove the concept and get it moving, then things should exponentially start falling into place regarding advancements throughout the county."
