West Virginia Internet access bill signed into law

Governor Joe Manchin signed West Virginia's Internet access bill into law on Thursday, April 10th. The legislation creates a broadband development council, provides for mapping high speed Internet services and establishes reporting requirements for state infrastructure, and requires any new service that relies on state money to be at least 600 kilobits per second - three times the FCC's definition of high speed.  The Broadband Deployment Council will be made up of seven members, including a representative from the Communications Workers of America, and will be chaired by the Governor.

"This legislation marks significant progress toward developing the infrastructure to support broadband access in West Virginia," Manchin said in prepared remarks. "We are now in a position to take a leadership role among states in making broadband available to our citizens and businesses."

This new law sets a goal of statewide universal high speed Internet by 2010.  The leadership of the broadband development council will be crucial to ensure that goal is met.

Internet Access Bill Signed into Law (Free Press)

New legislation will create a Broadband Deployment Fund in West Virginia (Speed Matters)

HB 4637 (West Virginia Legislature)