West Virginia Receives $1.4M Grant to Map Broadband access [Oct-23-2009] The Associated Press, Oct. 23, 2009 ELLENBORO, W.Va. -- West Virginia is getting $1.4 million to map broadband access across the state. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced the two-year grant during a visit to the state Friday. The agency says the grant will help increase broadband access and help consumers with better information about services they can use. Locke says the increasing high-speed Internet access can help create good jobs in the state. Sen. Jay Rockefeller has been pushing broadband access as a way to improve everything from health care to the economy in West Virginia. State officials estimate 77 percent to 80 percent of the state has broadband access, ranking West Virginia in the bottom five of the United States. Back to News