A new study by the Federal Communications Commission shows 56 percent of West Virginia residents don't have access to broadband.

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said she has a plan to bring affordable, high-speed Internet access to every home, business and classroom in the state.

“High-speed Internet access is a pillar of our 21st Century infrastructure and a gateway to economic growth in rural America,” Capito said at a roundtable discussion in Fairmont. “When I was sworn into the Senate, I outlined my top priorities for strengthening West Virginia, and improving broadband is at the top of that list. Better connecting West Virginia through increased broadband access is imperative if we are going to compete and thrive, and my Capito Connect Plan is a roadmap for achieving this goal.”

The WV Legislature previously attempted to broaden the services. The bill didn't pass in the 2015 session. However, a bill creating the Broadband Enhancement Council did. 

According to the report, in rural areas of the state, this number of West Virginians without access to the services is higher at 74 percent.

Capito said her plan includes:

  • Understanding the Benefits of a Connected West Virginia 
  • Listening to communities to achieve a widespread broadband that meets the unique demands of the state 
  • Fostering Collaboration between Government and the Private Sector 
  • Broadband access will be the result of partnerships between private, local, state and federal agencies and organizations. 
  • Fostering collaboration to help eliminate duplicate and outdated programs so that West Virginia can efficiently deliver broadband services to communities. 
  • Making Economic Growth through Innovation Broadband easily available and affordable for all West Virginians. This will require creative solutions to accommodate broadband users across all sectors, including schools, businesses and private citizens. Through innovative thinking and implementation, West Virginia will achieve the connectivity that will help boost our economy. 

At the roundtable discussion, Capito also announced she will launch a listening tour to hear from individuals and organizations around the state about how to seize the potential broadband has to offer West Virginia. Capito is encouraging West Virginians to share their broadband story by submitting a comment here.

Participants in the roundtable discussion included Ryan B. Palmer, Division Chief of the Federal Communications Commission's Telecommunications Access Policy Division; Mark DeFalco, Telecommunications Initiative Manager at the Appalachian Regional Commission; Richard Jenkins of the Rural Utilities Service; Shane Whitehair, Executive Director of the Region VII Regional Planning and Development Council; West Virginia State GIS Coordinator Tony Simental; Dr. Margaret Jaynes, Vice Chair of the West Virginia Telehealth Alliance; and Kenneth Kelly, a West Virginia small business owner.