West Virginia currently lacks costly broadband infrastructure. The stimulus grant for high speed Internet is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our state to use federal funds to make West Virginia competitive.
The current projected use of the stimulus grant under the State's Plan will not move the state forward.
The State's Plan only uses stimulus dollars to provide access to certain government and school locations - at high prices they may not be able to afford - all with no benefit to business and residential consumers.
The jobs of the future will require high-speed Internet. Without it, WV will fail in competition with
other states to attract 21st century jobs.
We can realize unprecedented job creation if the grant funds are used correctly.
That means affordable high-speed Internet for a growing digital economy.
Despite the fact that the State's Plan gives Frontier $69 million in taxpayer money, the state has not established a reduced rate schedule for Internet access in exchange.
Frontier will be able to use its existing rates, which are much higher than in surrounding markets.
Taxpayers are being asked to provide $69 million in free money, only then to pay artificially high rates for the privilege.
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The current plan will not leverage the federal grant to help West Virginia
business or homeowners gain access to high-speed Internet at capacities
comparable to other areas of the country.
West Virginia consumers will continue to suffer from an ill-advised strategy
that fails to provide infrastructure, competition and choice. There will be no
open interstate system for high-speed Internet. West Virginia's digital highway
will continue to be a one-lane road.