Issue Position: Broadband

Issue Position

Studies on the impact of broadband development have found that states and communities where broadband is available have more growth in employment and new businesses. The economic advantages of broadband are tremendous. However, there are also many social benefits for West Virginia. Broadband enhances our ability to communicate with each other as a society, and it changes the public discourse on important issues affecting our state. Broadband changes the way we buy and sale products & services, how we purchase medication and even how we go to school.

West Virginia has introduced legislation a number of times attempting to create a joint committee on advanced communication and information technology. There has been $5 million set aside from excess lottery funds for developing broadband by providing subsidies to private communication companies to develop broadband infrastructure and community outreach programs. Although we have made progress in WV, we have much ground to cover. I support the creation of a line item in the general revenue budget for developing broadband in our state. One of the ways we could pay for the line item is by increasing the telecommunications tax. This is a fair deal for telecommunication companies because the taxes would be going partly toward building broadband infrastructure they need to operate. It would also subsidize the private sector indirectly by providing funding to citizens for broadband services.

If West Virginia ever decides to take on this issue with an appropriate level of seriousness, we will have to ensure that WV tax dollars aren't going to waste. I will support legislation forming a joint committee on advanced communication & information technology to investigate policies that effectively develop and maintain high quality broadband services in West Virginia. The West Virginia Legislature needs to hold telecommunication companies accountable by extending oversight of broadband services to the Public Service Commission.

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