U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai outlined opportunities to improve rural broadband access in a joint op-ed recently published in the Beckley Register Herald.
Capito and Pai embarked on a small business tour and broadband roundtable in West Virginia last week to discuss how businesses are impacted by the lack of broadband connectivity, and solutions to bridge the digital divide.
“We listened to the stories of business owners who have struggled to grow because of inadequate high-speed Internet access,” Capito and Pai said. “We learned about the tourism industry losing repeat customers due to lack of broadband. And we heard about the challenge of attracting millennials to live, work, and visit rural areas with limited connectivity.”
One local business that caters to outdoor activities in rural West Virginia told the roundtable of challenges posed by inadequate high-speed internet access and the prohibitive costs of installing fiber on its 1,500-acre property. Without being able to market that the resort has Wi-Fi, however, the business faces a challenge.
“Stories like these highlight why reliable, affordable broadband services are essential to West Virginia’s economy,” Capito and Pai wrote. “As West Virginia looks to grow its tourism industry and diversify its overall economy, Internet access will be an essential part of the transition. Reliable broadband access has changed how we work, socialize and share information. For businesses and entrepreneurs, the Internet can unlock the doors to economic growth, increase productivity, and enable goods and services to be marketed to customers across the globe.”
Solutions to address connectivity issues at the broadband roundtable included reducing barriers to investments in infrastructure like fiber, streamlining regulations for wireless providers, encouraging public-private partnerships and ensuring accountability for taxpayer dollars allocated to develop broadband networks.
“This was just the start,” Capito and Pai wrote. “We will continue working together to bridge the digital divide that is hindering West Virginia’s businesses, especially in tourism. The state faces some challenges, but it also has major assets: hard-working residents, a spirit of community, and unmatched scenery. The internet is an increasingly critical way for the state to promote these assets. With all the beauty and adventure that West Virginia has to offer, it’s time to give the rest of the world an opportunity to cross the digital bridge and connect with the Mountain State.”