{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases/photos-capito-celebrates-major-broadband-milestone-in-hamlin", "PHOTOS: Capito Celebrates Major Broadband Milestone in Hamlin", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "WV", "Shelley Moore Capito", "C001047", "www.capito.senate.gov", "capito", "https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "HAMLIN, W.Va. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joined federal and state leaders in Hamlin, W.Va., for \u201cConnecting Country Roads,\u201d an event hosted by Armstrong celebrating the company\u2019s ongoing broadband expansion efforts to deploy 500 miles of fiber infrastructure to over 5,000 unserved locations and sustains reliable service for approximately 10,000 rural homes and small businesses. This investment was made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act\u2019s (IIJA) Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program that Senator Capito helped author and secure funding for West Virginia as well as through West Virginia\u2019s Line Extension Advancement and Development (LEAD) Program, and FCC\u2019s Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (Enhanced ACAM) Program. During the event, Senator Capito highlighted the critical role broadband plays in strengthening rural communities and emphasized the impact public-private partnerships have had in bringing reliable, high-speed internet to more West Virginians.\n\n\u201cExpanding access to reliable, high-speed internet is essential to ensuring that all West Virginians, regardless of where they live, can access the opportunities that broadband provides. I know how critical this connectivity is, and that is why I\u2019ve used my role in the U.S. Senate to create programs dedicated to providing reliable broadband, and fight for the resources West Virginia needs to make this service possible,\u201d Senator Capito said. \u201cI\u2019m proud of partnerships with providers like Armstrong, who continue to be an important part in our continued effort to close the digital divide and move toward a more connected West Virginia.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor 80 years, we\u2019ve made long term investments in the communities we call home,\u201d Jeff Ross, President of Armstrong, said. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to expand broadband access to even more families and business through public-private partnerships alongside our state and federal partners here in West Virginia.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nFor years, Armstrong has invested in broadband expansion throughout West Virginia through a combination of state and federal programs, including the BEAD, LEAD, and Enhanced ACAM programs. Armstrong is continuing to expand its fiber network to reach more unserved areas while helping provide reliable broadband service to rural homes and small businesses. These efforts represent a significant investment in our state\u2019s broadband infrastructure and future connectivity.\n\nPhotos from today\u2019s event are included below:\n\nU.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) delivers remarks at Armstrong\u2019s \u201cConnecting Country Roads\u201d event in Hamlin, W.Va. on Thursday, September 10, 2026.\n\nU.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) visits with FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty at Armstrong\u2019s \u201cConnecting Country Roads\u201d event in Hamlin, W.Va. on Thursday, September 10, 2026.\n\nU.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) attends Armstrong\u2019s \u201cConnecting Country Roads\u201d event in Hamlin, W.Va. on Thursday, September 10, 2026.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases/photos-capito-celebrates-major-broadband-milestone-in-hamlin"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5615727752447128, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}