§ 31G-1A-3 — Mapping of areas within state

(a) Based on its analysis of data, broadband demand, and other relevant information, the Office of Broadband shall establish a mapping of broadband services in the state. The council shall publish an annual assessment and map of the status of broadband, including specific designations of unserved areas of the state. With respect to unserved areas of the state, the Office of Broadband shall, to the extent it is able, map project areas with funding provided by public entities. For the purposes of this section, the term “unserved area” means an area lacking broadband internet service from at least one terrestrial broadband internet service provider offering all of the following in at least one service plan to residential consumers: (1) an actual downstream data rate of at least 25 megabits per second; and (2) an actual upstream data rate of at least three megabits per second; and (3) unlimited data usage without overage charges; and (4) unlimited data usage without “throttling” or reduction of downstream or upstream data rate due, in whole or in part, to the amount of data transferred in any period.

(b) To the extent possible, and subject to limitations contained in subsection (g) of this section, the Office of Broadband shall additionally establish an interactive public map reflecting estimated or actual downstream data rate and upstream data rate in a particular region, area, community, street or location. Any such mapping may only specify data rates at a particular street address or physical location, and shall not make public the IP address or the name of the specific individual at such location. This map shall be known as the West Virginia Broadband Availability Map.

(c) To the extent possible, and subject to limitations contained in subsection (g) of this section, the Office of Broadband shall additionally establish an interactive public map reflecting the adoption of broadband services, separately by estimated or actual downstream data rate and upstream data rates, in a particular region, area, community, street or location. Any such mapping shall provide data separately for residential connections and non-residential connections. This map shall be known as the West Virginia Broadband Adoption Map.

(d) The mapping provided for in this section may be based on information collected or received by the Broadband Council and Office of Broadband, including, but not limited to, data collected from:

(1) State and federal agencies or entities that collect data on broadband services;

(2) Industry provided information;

(3) Consumer data provided to the Broadband Council or Office of Broadband pursuant to §31G-1A-6 and §31G-1A-9 of this code; and

(4) Other data sources procured by or provided to the Office of Broadband or the Broadband Council.

(e) Any entity that has received or hereinafter receives state or federal moneys, and which has used those moneys to install infrastructure used for broadband services, shall furnish detailed information concerning the location, type, and extent of such infrastructure to the Office of Broadband for use in mapping and shall furnish the location, type, and prices of any broadband services subscribed to by residential (and separately non-residential) consumers as a result of the installed infrastructure.

(f) The mapping and designations provided for under this section may be revised on a continuing basis by the office as warranted by the data and information provided.

(g) In addition to the provisions of §31G-1A-13 of this code, the mapping of broadband services may exclude from public accessibility and availability:

(1) The location or identity of any critical infrastructure used by public or private entities in furtherance of their internet services;

(2) Personal name and personal IP addresses connected with particular data rates; and

(3) Information designated as confidential for public security reasons by either state or federal homeland security agencies:Provided, That it shall be duty of the public and private entities to make the Office of Broadband aware of such confidential designation:Provided, however, That unless the Office of Broadband determines good cause exists, the actual or estimated upstream and downstream data rates of an area or region of the state shall not be excluded from public or private availability.

(h) All executive agencies which have permitting and/or regulatory approval authority over any project permitted or reviewed and approved pursuant to §17-2E-3 of this code shall cooperate with and provide all necessary information to the Office of Broadband to determine the feasibility and federal allowability of creating Advanced Regulatory Environment Analysis (AREA) maps. AREA maps will pre-survey likely routes for middle-mile infrastructure so all relevant information can be included in a centralized GIS mapping system to be maintained by the Office of Broadband for utilization by the private sector when extending new fiber infrastructure pursuant to §17-2E-1et seq. of this code. AREA mapping shall also include, but is not limited to, any areas already granted Finding of No Significant Impact (“FONSI”), categorical exclusions (“CATEX”), areas prior approved by the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office (“SHPO”), and all West Virginia Division of Highways mapping for permits that include installation of infrastructure.

(i) If in analyzing the consumer-supplied speed data for an area of two square miles or more, the Office of Broadband finds that speeds supplied by a provider are less than 80% of the lowest speed tier advertised by the provider in more than 40% of the tests in that area in a calendar year, then the Office of Broadband shall notify the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office, and shall transmit such records of any relevant speed tests in their custody to the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office.

Legislative History

2021 Reg. Sess., HB2002