MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The City of Morgantown and West Virginia University are expected to embark on a high-speed internet endeavor.
Morgantown City Council is considering an agreement with WVU to create a stronger broadband network in Morgantown.
For Morgantown City Manager Jeff Mikorski, the proposed partnership didn’t start overnight.
“It’s been about a year or a year and a half that we have been trying to gain the ability to establish the Wi-Fi system both in downtown and the airport. We went through different designs, different uses,” Mikorski explained.
In the agreement, the City of Morgantown and WVU will use both of their respective network servers to increase internet availability.
Mikorski spoke about the areas that would be impacted if council approves the agreement on a second reading. They include “Willy Street to Pleasant Street, Chestnut Street to Spruce Street but including the Farmer’s Market area, the Public Safety buildings and other outside areas.”
The Morgantown airport would also connect to the fiber optic network.
A total expense was no quoted. But, Mikorski assured the collaboration with WVU will not be a financial burden.
“But I think until we roll out the whole system, and see a couple of months, um we can’t verify that but we’re pretty sure that it’ll fit with within what we’re already paying for broadband services”
The agreement would be for five years if passed.