ELKINS, W.Va. – Despite hundreds of millions in federal funding earmarked for broadband expansion, many West Virginians are still grappling with frustratingly slow internet speeds, unreliable service, and high monthly bills.
State broadband officials maintain that the state is on track to deliver universal high-speed internet access with more than $500 million in federal funding allocated to connect over 70,000 homes and businesses. However, the reality on the ground for many residents paints a different picture.
Approximately 80% of households currently have access to minimum broadband speeds of 100 megabits per second download and 20 megabits per second upload, according to federal mapping data.
Spotty Connections: Residents Wait for Promised Upgrades
Table of Contents
Nick Lennox, a resident of Elkins, describes his cable internet service as inconsistent, forcing him to plan his day around its limitations. “I do have internet where I live,” he said, “It’s hit and miss.”
Lennox, who works as a consultant, relocated to West Virginia in late 2023 through the Ascend WV program, which incentivizes remote workers to move to the state. Initially residing in Montrose, a short drive from Elkins, his only internet option was satellite service. This service imposed usage caps, significantly slowing speeds once exceeded. “I had to pay a lot of money for anything that was a decent speed,” he explained.
He has since moved to Elkins, becoming involved in local politics. However, even on clear days, his connection remains unreliable unless directly connected via ethernet cable. When service drops – a frequent occurrence, he says – Lennox relies on his phone’s hotspot or travels to local coffee shops or coworking spaces to find a stable connection.
“No one’s bragging about how good their internet is,” Lennox admitted. “I’ve gotten accustomed to very average service.”
A Lifeline for Work and Family
For Courtney Ostaff, a Morgantown resident, a stable internet connection is essential. She has taught math and science online for over a decade with Well-Trained Mind Academy. For years, she struggled with expensive bills and inconsistent service from outdated cable internet, paying around $100 monthly.
“I don’t really have a choice, because it’s that, or it’s DSL, which breaks down all the time, and it’s not nearly fast enough,” she said. DSL utilizes existing copper telephone lines for internet service.
Power outages, which occur at least monthly, knock out both her internet and cell service, prompting her to maintain a landline solely to contact the power company. Without reliable internet, she couldn’t work. “If I didn’t have any connection, I couldn’t do this job,” she stated. “I wouldn’t have this job.”
Internet access impacts every aspect of Ostaff’s household. Her two children rely on it for school and therapy appointments, while her elderly mother, largely housebound, uses it for telehealth and medical management. “If you don’t have that, it makes things a lot more challenging,” she said.
Still on Copper in Rural Pocahontas County
Allen Johnson, a resident of rural Pocahontas County for nearly 50 years, having moved from Wayne County in 1975, finds himself similarly frustrated. He relies on DSL, an aging infrastructure. Despite being mostly retired, he remains active with nonprofits, serving on several boards.
“The problem is we’re still on copper,” he said. At times, his upload speeds have fallen below one megabit per second, hindering basic tasks. “If I have a big file to upload, I just wait until I drive to the library or somewhere I can do that,” he explained.
Johnson pays up to $140 monthly for his service, despite the slow speeds and limited alternatives, residing in the heart of the Quiet Zone, where cell service is also unreliable. He maintains a landline for emergencies.
Fiber internet has been promised for years, but construction near his home remains stalled. Despite repeated announcements and new maps, reliable high-speed internet has yet to reach his property. “When they decided to put a person on the moon within a decade, they did that,” he said. “But we can’t get fast internet here in much of the county.”
