The outbreak of the coronavirus-pandemic has not generally been thought of as the catalyst for infrastructural improvements. However, when it comes to the nation’s internet speeds, the overwhelming majority of the United States has experienced a change for the better.
WhistleOut is a technology-comparison company that assists consumers with selecting the most appropriate technological service-provider for their needs. According to research released via their website, 45 states across the country have seen a noticeable increase to their internet speeds.
The states which have experienced the largest improvements are Wyoming with an increase of 52%, followed by Alaska, at 40%. The third-largest increase occurred in the West Virginia border-state of Kentucky, where speeds went up by 37%. This is due in large-part to initiatives within these states designed to enhance broadband infrastructure. One such initiative is the ‘KentuckyWired Project,’ which is in the process of installing more than 3,000-miles of fiber optic cable throughout every county in the state. WhistleOut reports that the national average has climbed from 84.9 Mbps to 94.6 Mbps.
However, what has become good news for many, is bad news for some. Five states, as well as Washington, D.C., have seen a reduction in their internet speeds. And with a drop of 13%, West Virginia has experienced the largest decrease of any state in the country. According to PC Magazine’s PCMag Speed Test, West Virginia was already among the slowest states, making this additional decrease particularly troublesome for users.
In recent weeks, W.Va. has begun two major undertakings with the intention of providing broadband internet access to every resident of the state. The first of the two initiatives, known as the ‘Kids Connect Program,’ calls for the creation of over 1,000 hotspot access-points where West Virginia students can access the internet.
The project, which utilizes the parking lots of every public school, as well as numerous libraries, police and fire stations across the state as access-points, is nearing completion. The Governor’s office has confirmed that almost 900 parking lots have been converted into functional hot spots.
The second initiative centers around an executive order signed by Gov. Jim Justice on September 3. Under the order, West Virginia will have access to $766-million through the FCC over the next 10-years in an effort to improve broadband-accessibility across the state. While both undertakings undoubtedly provide value to West Virginia, they also bring with them certain logistical challenges.
The Governor’s executive order has the potential to be a large part of the long-term solution. However, it does not provide any short-term benefit. On the other hand, the Kids Connect Program does offer immediate assistance for students who would not otherwise have broadband access. But this is, at best, a band-aid which puts additional strain on already ill-equipped ISP servers. This is a situation which Sen. Stephen Baldwin of Greenbrier County is all too aware.
“We need to take the bull by the horns,” Sen. Baldwin said. “This is something we’ve been talking about for a long time, (broadband enhancements) but we’ve been playing around the edges. We’ve tweaked some legislation here and there, but nothing has made a significant impact.”
The Kids Connect Program is something state-leadership began exploring several months ago as a way to make the internet accessible to every student in West Virginia. Sen. Baldwin credited the Governor for taking steps to implement the program.
“It is a short-term solution, and yes it will put additional strain on the network. But the Governor has been upfront about that,” Baldwin said.
Sen. Baldwin believes that the process set in motion by the Governor’s executive action will “probably be helpful over the next decade,” but also feels W.Va. must still take more immediate action.
“West Virginia can’t be looking for the savior … the big company to come in and provide jobs,” Baldwin said. “(We) need to build this ourselves instead of waiting on some big outside entity to come in and charge an arm and a leg.”
The Sen. cited the Glo Fiber project currently underway across the state-border in Staunton, Va. as a potential example for W.Va. to follow. The city is investing in the development and construction of their own system designed to provide broadband access to their residents. According to WhistleOut, Virginia has experienced a 16.8% increase in broadband throughput.
Sen. Baldwin further stressed that the absence of sufficient broadband-infrastructure is holding back the state’s economy, healthcare and education systems, saying: “In today’s new world, we have got to have broadband.”
