CHARLESTON, W.Va. –Communication Workers of America rep Elaine Harris says that having access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet is more essential now more than ever, for health, safety and education.
“At one point we say that’s something we would like to have, but I think now as we look at it in 2025 it’s something that we have to have,” Harris said on MetroNews Talkline last week.
This comes after concerns have been brought up surrounding the federal funding delay issues for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. The BEAD program was put on pause by the Trump administration on March 5.
Governor Patrick Morrisey was on MetroNews Midday Friday afternoon to talk about the issue.
Morrisey agreed that having access to the internet is extremely important for everyone.
“We need broadband connectivity, that makes a big difference for West Virginia’s future economic strength, and I think we’re going to be able to partner effectively with the Trump administration to get that,” he said.
West Virginia, along with other states, was previously allocated $1.2 billion dollars for West Virginia Broadband to deploy or upgrade high speed internet networks to make sure that everyone has access to the internet.
Morrisey said that he has been in contact with Trump’s administration and he is confident that Trump is committed to making broadband happen in the state.
“I believe that President Trump is committed to following through on BEAD and ensure that it’s going to be a program that’s going to have durability and strength and that its going to connect so many Americans to the internet,” Morrisey said.
Harris pointed out that there are still a lot of residents in the state that don’t have cell phone access and have to rely on a landline. Currently in the state there are more than 97,000 unserved locations and more than 15,000 underserved locations.
She said that it was essential for those who use telemedicine in replacement of a visit to the doctors.
She said that the CWA believed that the plan they had sent to the National Telecommunication and Information Administration was well thought out.
“We believe that it was a good plan that was submitted, and that involved the participation from different stakeholders from around the states,” Harris said.
In the plan she said that they wanted to use fiber deployment instead of satellites.
However, she said that if it was on the table and it allowed them to get the funding, then they would be up for the discussion.
“In our experience it seems to be the cleanest way, but if it’s the last mile or the last piece to get it then certainly I guess those would be discussions that would be on the table,” Harris said.
She said that if the project doesn’t continue it could potentially harm the jobs that West Virginia residents do for internet companies.
“We look at good jobs, that pay a good wage, with benefits and putting money back into the communities,” Harris said.
Morrisey says that those waiting for the connectivity needs to know that help is coming, but Trump and his administration want to make sure that taxpayer money is being spent the right way.
“Help is on the way, and just we’re now a little over 100 days in for the new administration in Washington and I think they are looking at different way to use taxpayer dollars effectively,” he said.