Michael Holstine
Contributing Writer
Pocahontas County has been waiting for broadband internet to arrive for far too long. What has been a modern staple for so many has eluded the rural areas of this country, but that is now changing. Those of you who know me know that broadband access has been a focus of mine for many years (decades, actually), and many years ago I was appointed to the WV Governor’s Broadband Enhancement Council. A lot of work has been accomplished at the State level to bring attention to the lack of broadband in West Virginia and funding for many programs has been secured. In order to ensure we bring broadband here to our residents, Pocahontas County was the first in the State to form a County Broadband Council, and in the pursuit of funding opportunities we secured a grant from the ARC Power program to install fiber through a good portion of the center of the county. However, I am getting ahead of myself a little bit.
As you have undoubtedly noticed, there has been a lot of activity on our communications infrastructure, from power poles being replaced to cable being strung. Frontier Communications (a Verizon company), and Citynet (an Internet Service Provider (ISP)) have both been active in the county, bringing their own broadband internet system to the residents. Various funding opportunities have allowed both of these companies to expand their service in different locations. As previously mentioned, our ARC project was a public-private partnership between the Pocahontas County Commission and Citynet and was an attempt to bring fiber to an area of the county that probably wouldn’t have gotten service without a grant. This project is now nearly complete. Citynet is designing the laterals and the service drops to the customers while beginning the permitting process required for the final fiber construction and turnup of the system. Under a different funding program, Frontier has also run fiber to many areas.
Internet Services providers are working on funding programs to extend their networks in Pocahontas County. The Line Extension Advancement and Deployment program or LEAD is one of those programs. Citynet was awarded a LEAD project as was Spruce Knob Seneca Rocks Telephone. These projects are under active construction and are located mostly in the northern and southern ends of the county. The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, RDOF, also brought new networks to the county. Citynet will soon complete its obligations in Pocahontas County.
Finally, through a federal program, the State has successfully been awarded over $1.2 billion for Broadband Equity and Deployment (BEAD). The state’s deployment of fiber award of that allocation was $545 million. The goal of the BEAD program is to serve the remaining unserved and underserved locations within the state, including those within the county. Citynet is the main recipient of the BEAD funds in West Virginia and the largest recipient in Pocahontas County. This project must be constructed and customers connected within four years. SpaceX, utilizing Starlink, was also awarded a few locations in Pocahontas County due to the high cost to physically build to the area.
Fortunately, transitioning to fiber is easy, but I’m sure you have questions. I would like to address some of them here, and hopefully give some guidance on what to expect.
Fiber to the home (FTTH) is absolutely the fastest and most reliable means of getting on the information superhighway. Glass fibers, smaller than a human hair, are inside the cable installed by the provider. The internet signal is transmitted by light within these fibers and then configured into a usable signal by the equipment in your home. The ISP will provide this equipment, typically called an Optical Network Terminal (ONT), and a router. The router is similar to what you have always had in your house, if you had internet, but made for optical fiber instead of copper wires. This router will also have the ability to provide you with wireless coverage in your house, or WiFi.
Frontier is utilizing EERO products for their system, and Citynet is using AdTran. Both companies will ensure the product is set up and working after installation. I haven’t been able to detail the EERO product as either EERO or Frontier do not allow the homeowner access to the router after installation.
The Citynet router is open to the homeowner through an app provided by Citynet, so I have included several questions below with answers in which you might have an interest.
What is the coverage area of the router’s WiFi?
Typically, the router provides coverage for approximately 1,500 square feet, depending on the home’s layout. Thick walls, multiple floors, and other obstructions can reduce the Wi-Fi signal and overall coverage.
Do existing mesh networks work well with it? (NOTE: A mesh network utilizes one or more additional access points to extend the reach of your network)
Most existing mesh systems will work with it. However, if you want the smoothest transition and a more seamless wireless experience, Adtran provides their own mesh Access Points (Aps). Using another mesh system would mean having two separate Wi-Fi networks to switch between.
Will the app allow homeowner access to its functions, settings, and ability to set up guest networks, for example?
Citynet provides an app called IntelliFi that gives customers an easy way to access and manage their router settings, including making changes to their Wi-Fi and other network configurations. For customers who prefer not to use an app, a 24/7 call center, based in Bridgeport, is available to assist. They have a support team that can securely access the customer’s router and make the necessary settings changes on their behalf.
How many physical ports are available for device direct connection?
The routers installed come equipped with four built-in hardwired Ethernet ports, allowing customers to connect wired devices directly to the router.
Can I keep my existing phone number?
You can absolutely keep your existing phone number. The ISP you select will either be the one you most likely have now, Frontier, or Citynet. If your service is with Frontier, they will transfer your phone over to their fiber service. If you choose to go with Citynet, they can “port” your phone number over to their service. Do NOT cancel your existing service before that happens as that may cause a problem, so expect a slight overlap in service.
Additionally, there are flyers available that will answer a lot of questions about the new Citynet service, including package tiers for service and various options available at each level. The Citynet website, citynet.net, also provides much of the information a customer would want.
And one last thing that many are immediately concerned with.
Can I keep my existing copper landline?
Living in a good portion of Pocahontas County means living without cell service, so the old landline service is considered a lifeline by many, especially in the event of a power outage. If your phone is part of your fiber internet service and you lose power, you also lose your phone. Of course, one way to maintain your power is to have a backup generator, which many do. However, if you do not, you can purchase a backup battery for the internet router and that will keep your phone working. Certain providers can install a battery backup solution, but long-term maintenance of this item should be considered when taking this. Frontier, for example, can provide a unit that uses 12 D-size batteries. You’ll have to decide if that is a good option or not.
Keeping your copper landline is a possibility, but this has now turned into a complicated issue. As of now, Frontier has sent form letters to many of you informing you that on or after November 30, 2026 your copper infrastructure used for landline telephone will be discontinued. This letter pertains to all of Frontier’s service customers in many states. I have pursued this issue with the Public Service Commission and this is what I have been told by them.
Phone companies have already been told by the FCC that they no longer need to maintain their copper infrastructure. This has been an ongoing issue with the FCC for the last 5 or 6 years, and this is the next step. The copper service for Dial Tone will not be going away unless there is an alternative technology to give the customer service. This letter was informational only; they really don’t know when the time will come to transition.
Customers should not be advised to seek service from another provider. Frontier/Verizon has the carrier of last resort designation in West Virginia, and if a customer is located with the Frontier/ Verizon service territory, the Company is required to provide service.
If fiber is not being deployed in a particular area and other alternatives, such as cellular or broadband service are not available, Frontier will continue to maintain copper service in those areas. Frontier/Verizon is not discontinuing copper service entirely.
We will continue to monitor this situation as I’m not sure how this will, in reality, play out.
If you have personal concerns about your situation the website for the WV Public Service Commission is https://www.psc.state.wv.us/ Their main phone number is 1-800-344-5113. They have a complaint site at https://www.psc.state.wv.us/scripts/complaints/instructions.cfm and a direct phone number at 1-800-642-8544.
Connectivity through various providers has become a reality in Pocahontas Coun-ty, whether that be through Frontier, Citynet, Shentel, Spruce Knob Seneca Rocks Telephone, or AT&T or T-Mobile, options that not that long ago seemed far-fetched. The public-private partnership we have had with Citynet has been superb, transparent at every level, and thoroughly professional and personable. Our engineering firm, Thompson & Litton (T&L), the contractor (Quanta), and Region IV Planning and Development and the GVEDC have all been amazingly dedicated to getting this project completed. Your patience has also been amazing, although I will admit that mine has run thin at times over these years.
Through the work of many amazing people at all levels the whole point of the Councils’ work is being realized. Not only is broadband service rolling out to the residents, but something far more important in my mind is being provided – choice. Absolutely apparent in all this expansion is the fact that once you have choices in service providers, competition ensures that everyone wins; in offerings, price, and ongoing service.
Stay informed by visiting the Pocahontas County Broadband Council website. We are constantly updating information and trying to make sure you have all the information we have. Visit https://pocahontascounty broadband.com/
The website for the WV Broadband Enhancement Council is https://broad band.wv.gov/
