Charleston, West Virginia — Two West Virginia lawmakers who promoted the expansion of detailed broadband plans in a recent national panel.

Senator Bob Primer (D-Wayne) and Representative Daniel Linville (R-Cabel) Pew Charitable Trust It focused on how the state is expanding broadband access. The panel also suggested that the state wants federal lawmakers to know when considering federal broadband legislation.

Plymale told a panel of five that the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that the current broadband standards were simply not maintained.

“When three or four people are accessing a household and students are accessing it for school education … the service is so poor that we can’t find a well-serviced area in West Virginia. I see, “he said.

June, Secretary of Economic Development Mitch Carmichael I told a member of the Diet West Virginia should begin experiencing broadband capacity improvements in a short period of time, starting with a grant this summer to extend existing fiber and cable networks.

The state government will receive $ 667 million from the American Rescue Plan, some of which could be allocated to broadband. And the state government has received more than $ 138 million, especially for broadband investments.

Plymale said it is currently focusing on people who are not currently in service and are affordable.

“We need to prioritize that here. We go to rural areas and, in some cases, areas where we can’t afford to buy what monopolies can use,” he said.

Linville talked about monopolies, saying that state and federal governments must develop more policies and proposals that will bring competition between businesses. He also proposed to Congressmen to include consumer protection in broadband bills, and his members weren’t offered credit for the bill after losing service for a month due to a storm, but still billed. Said that it has been.

“Americans and West Virginia certainly want us to be able to choose who we do business with for a variety of reasons. Without that competition, without the regulations that require it, the network will continue to renew. There is essentially no incentive to invest, “he said.

Linville said This year’s law Under the Capitol dome, it was to remove all regulatory obstacles and keep them out of the way.

Linville was the main sponsor of House Building 2002, Passed in flying colors and has various features For the purpose of improving internet services..

“People want broadband now. Not three, five, or ten years from now. They want it now,” he said.

Primare Said earlier He’s not sure if $ 138 million is less than the amount actually needed to make a splash. He said the state has hit this hard and the project cannot be underestimated.

Other panelists included state councilor Lewis Riggs (R-MO), Teresa Ferguson, director of federal broadband engagement, and Dr. Tamara Holmes, director of the Colorado Broadband Office and Virginia Broadband Office.

Organizers will focus on Linville and Primale gaining clarity and rulemaking from federal leaders, taking advantage of regional planning opportunities, improving regional speed, quality and service, and state-possible accountability and regulation. I agreed to establish a priority as a guess.