WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito are again expressing concern with how much of West Virginia has reliable broadband service.
Both senators issued statements Friday following the recent release of the 2020 Broadband Deployment Report earlier in the day by the Federal Communications Commission.
Manchin sent a letter FCC Chairman Ajit Pai expressing his concern with the report, calling it a stark reminder of “how far we have to go.”
“We both know that the broadband coverage results published in this report are based on inaccurate and overstated coverage data,” Manchin wrote. “Your report claims that 16 counties in West Virginia have the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) definition of fixed broadband (25/3 Mpbs) deployment of over 90% (Berkeley, Boone, Cabell, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Logan, Marion, Mercer, Ohio, Raleigh, Wood, and Wyoming). However, I have sent you multiple fixed-broadband speed test letters from 15 of these counties showing actual speeds well below that threshold. Additionally, your report states that 10 counties in West Virginia have 100% deployment of the most basic mobile LTE (5/1 Mpbs). However, I have sent you multiple speed tests from three of these counties (Berkeley, Morgan, Wood) with speeds well below that threshold. Clearly, West Virginians experiences on the ground are not matching the rosy picture painted in the 2020 Broadband Deployment Report.”
MORE Read deployment report here
Manchin sent Pai results from 107 additional speed tests Friday.
In her statement, Capito said coverage improvements have been made but the deployment report is based on flawed data. She’s calling for more granular data to be used, which she said the FCC has acknowledged.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, broadband connectivity has become more critical than ever before,” Capito said. “The report is positive news that the digital divide continues to close and that we continue to make progress. However, with nearly 30 percent of rural communities still lacking access to 25/3 Mbps service, I remain deeply committed to expanding broadband connectivity across our state, especially as telecommunication capability is vital during these trying times.”
According to the FCC report in information released by Capito’s office, 82.4 percent of West Virginians have access to broadband service at 25/3 Mbps, leaving close to 20 percent without such access.
The report says in rural communities, only 70.2 percent have access to 25/3 Mbps and 30 percent of rural West Virginians do not have access to the FCC’s standard.
The number of West Virginians with access to Mobile LTE service at 10/3 Mbps is 82.9 percent while 73.5 percent of West Virginians have access to mobile service in rural communities.