The West Virginia House Judiciary Committee approved a bill Thursday with the goal of expanding accessibility to broadband Internet in the Mountain State by expanding existing broadband legislation.
CHARLESTON â The West Virginia House Judiciary Committee approved a bill Thursday with the goal of expanding accessibility to broadband internet in the Mountain State.
If it becomes law, House Bill 2002 will expand on existing broadband laws passed during the past three years meant to make it easier and less expensive for broadband service providers to install broadband fiber and for local municipal governments to enter into co-ops to expand broadband in their towns.
The House of Delegates moved the bill one day after Gov. Jim Justice mentioned the need for broadband expansion during his State of the State address without providing much in the way of details for how he wanted the Legislature to make that expansion happen.
West Virginia Lawmaker Calls for State Broadband Regulation
With West Virginia set to receive $362 million in federal funds for rural broadband expansion, Del. Mick Bates of Raleigh County is pushing for the state to begin regulating Internet service. by Jessica Farrish, The Register-Herald / February 8, 2021 Shutterstock/Sean Pavone
(TNS) With West Virginia set to receive $362 million in federal funds for rural broadband expansion, Del.
Mick Bates
of
Bates said Friday that
West Virginia, is operating as an unregulated monopoly. He wants the
State Public Service Commission, which regulates utility companies, to oversee internet companies like
Suddenlink. It s essential, said Bates. It s essential for schooling. It s essential for business. It s essential for health care.
CHARLESTON â Appalachian Power, along with Wheeling Power, submitted an application to the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) this past week for approval of a broadband infrastructure expansion project that will facilitate broadband access in unserved areas of Logan and Mingo counties, according to a news release.
The company is requesting approval of the project plan and cost recovery for the estimated $61.3 million investment, which includes installing 430 miles of middle-mile fiber optic cable infrastructure needed to expand high-speed broadband access.
âWith utility poles already in place near homes and businesses, even in the most rugged and mountainous areas, we are well-positioned to help expand broadband access in rural parts of our service area,â said Chris Beam, Appalachian Power president and chief operating officer. âThe expansion of fiber also provides a robust communications platform for electric grid enhancements that improve energy
For The Inter-Mountain
CHARLESTON – Letters sent last Friday from state broadband officials and lawmakers urged the West Virginia Public Service Commission to scrutinize a proposed deal to approve Frontier Communication’s bankruptcy reorganization in anticipation of a Jan. 19 meeting.
Instead, the PSC issued two orders the same day they received the letters, accepting Frontier’s reorganization plan which included promises to make capital improvements and expand broadband internet across the state. In exchange, Frontier must meet monthly and quarterly reporting requirements and could face financial penalties if it falls behind in its promises.
“The PSC’s approval is another step toward Frontier’s emergence from Chapter 11 restructuring,” said Allison Ellis, senior vice president of regulatory affairs for Frontier, in a statement Wednesday.