WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee hearing, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) yesterday asked Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby about the conference’s decision to stream major West Virginia University (WVU) basketball games on the ESPN+ streaming platform. Given the connectivity challenges of the state, many Mountaineer fans are left without access to watch their favorite team.
“You recently signed a Big 12 deal to stream on ESPN+,” Senator Capito said. “Rural state, West Virginia. We’re playing Kansas tomorrow… and you can only view the game in West Virginia if you pay the $4.99 monthly streaming fee and if you have connectivity, and it’s been a source of very deep concern to West Virginia. So, I want to give you a chance to respond to a rural state—we have no pro teams. These teams are our pro teams, and we want to see that WVU victory on our TV’s on Wednesday.”
BACKGROUND:
Senator Capito has been a leader in the Senate in improving connectivity in rural communities. She launched her Capito Connect program in 2015 with the goal of closing the digital divide in West Virginia. As co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, she has worked across the aisle on numerous bills to make broadband more accessible and affordable for rural areas. Senator Capito has also worked extensively with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other federal agencies and private partners to bring broadband resources to West Virginia.
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