The state of West Virginia has awarded $5.5 million to Citynet through the state’s Line Extension Advancement and Development (LEAD) program. Citynet, a 20-year-old fiber broadband provider based in West Virginia, was the sole winner in this round of the program.
Citynet will contribute an additional $789,500 toward total project costs of $6.3 million. The project will make fiber broadband available to 601 locations in rural areas of the state.
Additional information about Citynet’s win can be found in this press release.
The LEAD program is one of several West Virginia broadband funding programs, which have a combined budget of $100 million. Most of the funding ($90 million) came through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). An additional $10 million came through state general revenue funds.
The West Virginia programs are administered by the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, Office of Broadband.
Citynet’s win came in round 2 of the LEAD program. Funding winners in the first round were announced last year.
Awards in a third LEAD program round are expected to be announced early this year.
Serial Winner
This isn’t the first time Citynet has won West Virginia broadband funding. In 2022, the company was awarded $2.2 million through the state’s Major Broadband Project Strategies (MBPS) program.
The company also won $53.5 million through the federal Rural Digital Opportunities Fund (RDOF) program. Citynet’s funding was approved in 2021.
And in 2020, the company was awarded $7.6 million through the USDA ReConnect program.
Prior to that, Citynet won funding through the federal Connect America Fund program.
Additional information about West Virginia broadband, including links to state funding resources, previous Telecompetitor coverage and more, can be found on the Broadband Nation page for the state.
