Home | Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The solution is simple. The state should immediately rework its current plan for use of stimulus funds intended for deployment of high-speed Internet infrastructure. Instead of relying on outdated telephone wires, the state of West Virginia should develop a true middle-mile fiber solution for high-speed Internet infrastructure. If the state will not do the right thing, then the federal government must step in, suspend the grant and force the state to follow the funding guidelines.
Unlike the state's current approach, any network developed under a new state plan should be an open-access network that promotes capacity, competition and quality. Competition would allow West Virginia companies to compete on a level playing field with companies in neighboring states or in different parts of the world. All companies should be able to access the assets purchased by the taxpayer funds. Access and data transportation charges should reflect the level of federal funding provided, unlike the current plan, which contains no price reductions despite millions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies.
A reworked state plan for high-speed Internet would provide that state and local governmental agencies have access to high-speed Internet at a competitive price. The current state plan promotes a monopoly and will cost the state significantly more for high-speed Internet over the long term. The current approach will waste taxpayer dollars. At this time, those of us in West Virginia pay significantly more for high-speed Internet service than surrounding states.
The state plan also should be reworked to provide high-speed Internet access to households and businesses with speeds and capacity that are comparable to surrounding states and at a price that is competitive. If the current state plan is not altered, businesses and the state's residents will not be able to compete with out-of-state companies for 21st century commerce and jobs.
The state plan should not fund last-mile infrastructure. Instead, the state should promote middle-mile infrastructure. In other words, the taxpayer funds should be used to build data super highways, not one lane roads to nowhere. The state should leave last-mile development to private telecommunication companies, just as other states have done. In addition, the state should not waste tens of millions of dollars on administrative costs. Instead, all stimulus resources should be spent on the development of a middle-mile infrastructure.
West Virginia is at a crossroads. We can develop a middle-mile solution for high-speed Internet infrastructure and create jobs, or we can stick with the status quo and watch West Virginia fall further behind other states once again. The outcome will determine our state's economic growth for years to come.
