WHEELING, W.Va. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a
member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, along
with Congressman David McKinley (R-W.Va.), today hosted Doug Kinkoph, Associate
Administrator for the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth of the
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), for a
broadband summit in Wheeling, W.Va.
The summit provided an opportunity
for federal, state, and local officials, as well as Internet Service Providers,
to highlight the unique challenges West Virginia faces, for example in the Northern Panhandle, when it comes to
improving broadband connectivity.
“Broadband connectivity is
key to a modern economy, which is why it’s my top priority,” Senator Capito said. “With the incoming
broadband dollars coming to West Virginia through the new bipartisan
infrastructure law, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to strengthen our
broadband deployment efforts. However, in order to achieve this goal,
collaboration at the federal, state, and local levels is absolutely essential.
That’s what today’s summit is about, and I was glad to bring NTIA here to West
Virginia to not only see the problem firsthand, but also to hear directly from
those at the state and local level about the unique challenges we face and
learn more about how we can ensure we effectively and efficiently address this
problem.”
“The Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law, supported by Senator Shelley Moore Capito, provides the
resources to connect everyone in America to high-speed internet to finally
bridge the digital divide,” Douglas
Kinkoph, Associate Administrator, of NTIA’s Office of Internet Connectivity and
Growth, said. “Access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet
for West Virginians means opportunities for workforce development in
high-skilled, high-paying jobs and the ability to close the ‘homework gap’ by
making sure every child has internet access at home.”
Photos from today’s summit
are included below:
U.S. Senator
Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) hosts a broadband summit in Wheeling, W.Va. on Wednesday,
August 24, 2022.
U.S. Senator
Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) hosts a broadband summit in Wheeling, W.Va. on Wednesday,
August 24, 2022.
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