Steven Allen Adams

The West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) is taking the side of an internet service provider in a dispute over who pays for pole replacements when adding broadband attachments. In an order issued July 28, the PSC prohibited Appalachian Power from enforcing a “pre-existing violation” policy to place the cost of repairs or replacement of utility poles on internet service providers, instead of the electric utility that owns the poles. Appalachian Power has cited its pre-existing violation policy when issues are discovered with the pole or prior attachments to the pole during make-ready

Should West Virginia place limits on local governments competing with private companies to create broadband networks? The Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary recently received an overview of the concept of state versus local broadband preemption. While broadband issues are typically tackled by the Joint Standing Committee on Technology and Infrastructure, Joint Judiciary Committee Co-Chairman JB Akers (R-Kanawha) said the issue of broadband preemption was a legal matter.

West Virginia’s final proposal for use of millions in federal broadband funding remains on pause as state officials review that plan and brace for changes to the program under President Trump, but there is concern that the program will favor satellite over fiber broadband. The Grant County Commission recently wrote a letter to Gov.

The Federal Communications Commission received a lashing from one West Virginia elected official, while others praised the agency. Leaders in the House of Delegates support a set of conditions the FCC secured for the merger of Sprint and T-Mobile. But Sen Joe Manchin (D-WV) blasted the FCC for a misleading report on broadband growth. He questions the report’s accuracy and is asking the FCC to seek more feedback from West Virginians on where broadband and wireless service is lacking.