WEST UNION, W.Va. — A collaborative partnership launched in 2019 among the Doddridge County Board of Education, the Doddridge County Economic Development Authority, the Doddridge County Commission, and Citynet has transformed broadband access across Doddridge County. Today, that partnership is delivering another meaningful opportunity for local students and families.

Through this partnership, Doddridge County households with students enrolled in Doddridge County Schools have the opportunity to receive complimentary internet service throughout the 2026–2027 school year, from September through June. This initiative helps ensure students have the reliable connectivity needed to learn, grow, and succeed while further expanding opportunities throughout our community.

As reliable broadband became increasingly essential for education, economic development, healthcare, workforce opportunities, and everyday life, community leaders came together in 2019 to pursue a shared vision of expanding connectivity throughout Doddridge County. The initiative began when the Doddridge County Commission allocated $1.5 million to the Doddridge County Economic Development Authority to attract private broadband investment. Recognizing the critical role internet access would play in supporting student learning, the Doddridge County Board of Education joined the effort with a $600,000 investment.

Working in partnership with the EDA, Citynet designed a broadband solution tailored to the county's needs and successfully secured more than $12 million in additional federal funding through the USDA Rural Development ReConnect Program and the FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Together, these investments transformed the original local initiative into an approximately $14 million countywide broadband infrastructure project, bringing reliable high-speed internet access to virtually every area of Doddridge County.

With the broadband network now substantially complete, most households in Doddridge County have access to high-speed broadband service. Building upon that success, the partnership is taking the next step by extending this complimentary internet opportunity to resident households with students enrolled in Doddridge County Schools. Depending on service availability, households will receive the connectivity solution that best serves their location. Recognizing that reliable internet access is essential to student learning and academic success, the partners chose to launch this initiative by supporting resident families with students enrolled in Doddridge County Schools.

"At Doddridge County Schools, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to succeed both inside and outside the classroom," said Superintendent Dr. Adam L. Cheeseman. "Reliable internet access is no longer a convenience—it is an essential part of learning, communication, and preparing students for the future. This initiative demonstrates what can happen when a community comes together around a shared purpose. By investing in opportunities for our students today, we are creating opportunities that will benefit our families, our workforce, and

the future of Doddridge County. These are the moments that matter, and together we remain united to make a difference."

"This project represents everything we set out to do when we partnered with Doddridge County back in 2019 — bring real, reliable broadband to every corner of this community.” said Drew Pomeroy, Senior Vice President of Strategic Sales for Citynet. “Watching that investment grow from $2.1 million to a $14 million network has been incredible, but this next step is the one we're most proud of. Making sure every student in this county has the internet access they need to learn, without their family having to worry about the cost."

"One of the greatest measures of economic development is creating opportunities that improve people's lives," said Jennifer Wilt, of the Doddridge County Economic Development Authority. "This partnership demonstrates what can happen when organizations share a common vision and invest in the future together. Years ago, we set out to expand broadband access across Doddridge County. Today, we're seeing that investment come full circle by helping connect students, supporting families, and strengthening our community for years to come."

This partnership represents a shared commitment to the future of Doddridge County. Together, education, local government, economic development, private industry, and federal partners have expanded broadband access, strengthened opportunities for students and families, and demonstrated what is possible when a community works together toward a common goal.

Enrollment information and additional program details will be shared by Citynet prior to the start of the 2026–2027 school year.

Additional background information regarding the broadband initiative, including project history and funding, is available through the Doddridge County Economic Development Authority.