The Times West Virginian

Opinion

March 9, 2010

Broadband access vital to state’s future

For the Times West Virginian

FAIRMONT — The Mountain State is receiving $126.3 million in federal stimulus funding for a proposed statewide broadband infrastructure project.

The state applied for the grant last year. However, formal plans to launch the broadband network actually were begun by Gov. Joe Manchin way back in 2007. The award of the federal stimulus dollars to West Virginia was jointly announced by U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., and U.S. Rep. Nick Joe Rahall, D-W.Va.

Manchin is hoping to have West Virginia wired for broadband access from “border to border.” With a healthy infusion of federal stimulus funds, that dream is now well on its way to reality.

According to Manchin, the broadband project will take the state’s existing technology infrastructure to a whole new level, particular for more rural parts of the state such as southern West Virginia. ...

According to the governor’s office, the project will expand West Virginia’s existing public safety network, and about 2,400 miles of fiber optic cable. As a result, every K-12 school in the state will have a high-speed Internet connection. In addition, access to health care, distance learning opportunity and broadband video applications will be expanded to more than 60 emergency first responders across the state, including several in McDowell and Wyoming counties.

The project is expected to provide affordable broadband service to more than 700,00 households, 110,000 businesses and 1,500 anchor institutions.

We applaud the Manchin administration for its forward thinking on this grant application. Apparently, no other states — including the neighboring Commonwealth of Virginia — bothered to take the steps necessary to apply for a complete statewide grant. Their loss is West Virginia’s gain.

While many will undoubtedly be quick to ask how 

many jobs this project will create since federal stimulus dollars are involved, we believe it is a worthy project that does have the potential to not only create new jobs, but also to retain and strengthen existing industry.

In this day and age, existing broadband infrastructure is as critical as roads, water and sewer when it comes to new industry recruitment. By wiring the Mountain State from one border to the next, West Virginia will be in a much better position to attract new jobs and high-tech industry while also enhancing its existing education and health care system.

— Bluefield (W.Va.) Daily Telegraph

 

This editorial does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Times West Virginian editorial board.

 

Text Only
Opinion
  • Quit playing games; ‘do what is right’ in renewing extension of the payroll tax cut

    Once again, lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are working on a deal to extend a payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans beyond the end of the month.
    And once again, debate has ensued.

    February 10, 2012

  • Superintendent, BOE must find accord if schools are to progress

    We’re a little confused.
    In October, an item appeared on the agenda of a Marion County Board of Education meeting to hire an administrative assistant of Human Resources and Student Support Services. But the item was pulled from the agenda with no public discussion about why, and the position was not filled.

    February 9, 2012

  • George Esper: Outstanding man as correspondent and WVU professor

    Many West Virginians would no doubt be shocked to learn that the outstanding correspondent from the Vietnam War was a West Virginia University graduate from Uniontown, Pa.
    His name was George Esper, one familiar for many years around the WVU School of Journalism for his tenacious coverage of the Vietnam War that established him as a highly revered print reporter of the 20th century.

    February 8, 2012

  • Hiding state records has no place in a democracy

    In private business and personal life, people may hide some activities, exercising their right of privacy. But government is different.

    February 7, 2012

  • Results about Twitter, free from censorship

    So Twitter announces that it will allow country-specific censorship. What followed was #outrage, #disbelief, #protest, #RighteousIndignation, #TwitterBlackout and #rage.

    February 5, 2012

  • West Virginia must develop plan to fulfill highway needs

    There is no dispute that improving West Virginia’s roads is one of the state’s biggest needs.
    We use them daily — out of necessity and for pleasure.
    They’re also vital to West Virginia’s economic health.

    February 5, 2012

  • Best interests would be served if FGH and city both move on

    In December, Marion County Circuit Court Judge David Janes ruled that the Fairmont General Hospital Board of Directors can appoint its own members and that the City of Fairmont’s charter no longer applies to the hospital.

    February 3, 2012

  • Educational partnership a step in the right direction

    Officials involved in a new educational partnership between Pierpont Community & Technical College and FirstEnergy Corp. call the endeavor a “great opportunity.”
    We think it’s even more than that.

    February 2, 2012

  • Meth causes senseless waste, terrible damage in West Virginia

    Terrible damage is inflicted on West Virginia — and upon abusers and their families — because dopeheads feel compelled to blank out their minds with drugs of many sorts. We can’t understand the sad need that impels them. It causes a senseless loss to society and individuals, filling prisons and wrecking jobs.

    January 31, 2012

  • Limited funds for workforce training can’t be wasted through drug abuse

    There’s only so much money to go around when it comes to workforce training. And with the national economy still in a bit of a slump, there’s even less money to go around and even more of a reason to make the money invested in these programs count.

    January 29, 2012

Featured Ads
Special Editions