By Eric Eyre
wvgazette.com
Charleston, W.Va. - State schools Superintendent Jorea Marple has called on Gov.-elect Earl Ray Tomblin's office to explain the state's "lack of progress" in completing a $126.3 million federal stimulus project designed to bring high-speed Internet to schools and other public facilities across West Virginia.
In a recent four-page letter to state Commerce Secretary Keith Burdette, Marple said only a "fraction of the promised work" has been completed - or even started.
With the stimulus funds, the state plans to install about 900 miles of fiber optic cable. Only six miles have been finished, according to a recent report.
The $126.3 million project started 20 months ago. It must be completed by February 2013, or the state will have to return any unspent funds.
"On a daily basis, education staff across West Virginia express concern about the current lack of progress and the impact it will have on West Virginia children," Marple wrote in the letter to Burdette.
After a meeting with Tomblin administration officials last week, Marple said Tuesday she was "cautiously optimistic" that the broadband expansion project will get back on track.
Read the rest of Eric Eyre's story sundaygazettemail.com
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