Thousands of West Virginians are still waiting for high-speed internet. But a new federal push that could steer more broadband funding to Elon Musk’s Starlink will make them wait even longer.
Earlier this year, the state was poised to receive $1.2 billion to connect every West Virginian to the internet, mainly through traditional fiber cables.
Now, the money has been delayed as federal officials are making changes that would benefit satellite internet providers like Starlink, owned by Trump megadonor Musk.
The program’s former director warned colleagues that the Trump administration was “stranding rural America with worse internet” to make “the world’s richest man richer.”
West Virginia broadband leaders and county officials warn that favoring satellite providers will leave residents with slower, less reliable service. They argue traditional fiber-based broadband is cheaper, longer-lasting and better suited to the state’s mountainous landscape.
“Starlink is not a feasible nor sustainable substitute for high-capacity, fiber-based broadband in our county,” Pendleton County officials wrote in a letter to Gov. Patrick Morrisey in late April.
In Pendleton County, where residents live inside the state’s quiet zone, internet and cell service are limited, and fiber-based broadband has less interference than satellite.
“It’s not a good permanent solution for folks around here,” said Rick Gillespie, emergency services coordinator for the county.
In Grant County, Commissioner Tyson Riggleman helped craft a similar letter to the governor, writing against Starlink and satellite internet.
He said the county has already had successful broadband projects using fiber by working with internet providers such as Micrologic, Chantel, Frontier and HardyNet.
“What we want to see for our residents is better internet,” he said. “When we’re also talking about economic growth, on-the-ground fiber makes the most sense for our county.”
Fiber, not satellite, is the ‘golden standard’
Last year, Musk spent over $200 million to get President Donald Trump elected. Trump’s pick to lead the agency handing out federal broadband funding supports opening it up to satellite providers like Musk’s Starlink.
Starlink has emerged as a new alternative for West Virginians struggling with poor service from traditional providers. But it remains more expensive, with basic startup costs around $349.
In 2022, the company was denied almost a billion dollars in federal rural broadband subsidies after officials determined it failed to deliver promised speeds. Starlink said the service is often the only viable option for remote communities and is working to upgrade its satellites.
The Biden administration’s Broadband Equity and Access Deployment Program was originally designed with a “fiber first” approach. If no fiber options are available, satellite providers can step in as a last resort.
Last year, it was estimated that 34% of eligible locations in West Virginia are connected to the internet using fiber-optic cables, up from just 1.8% in 2013.
Fiber infrastructure is commonly used because it relies on narrow cables that can transfer data at almost the speed of light and are relatively inexpensive.
About two-thirds of broadband project costs pay for technicians who attach cables to utility poles or run them underground, said Gary Bolton, president of the Fiber Broadband Association.
“Satellite technology is really cool,” he said. “But when you’re talking about families, economic development and putting in critical infrastructure, fiber is the golden standard.”
Federal changes slow down long-awaited broadband
In March, federal officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce launched a “rigorous review” of the program.
They announced plans to cut “government red tape” and make the program “tech neutral.” It would no longer favor fiber internet, opening the door for Starlink.
After a meeting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington, Gov. Morrisey announced West Virginia’s $1.2 billion for broadband expansion would be delayed until mid-July.
Drew Galang, a spokesperson for the governor, said Morrisey will be working closely with the Trump administration to ensure the state receives the “critical funding” and residents receive the “best possible” internet.
State broadband officials have spent years planning how to roll out the program. Now, they’re waiting for the green light.
“We know the program is being revised, but we don’t know how,” said Kelly Workman, the state’s broadband director. “We’re wasting time and resources.”
To get ahead of the changes, she said, officials are collecting Starlink usage data and building backup plans. Still, last week the state’s Broadband Enhancement Council adopted a resolution in support of fiber infrastructure, citing its reliability and faster speeds over satellite.
Workman has worked for years on broadband expansion, often testifying in front of lawmakers and meeting with federal officials in Washington.
She got the state to the finish line for the historic $1.2 billion investment, and West Virginia would have been one of the first states to receive funding.
During a two-hour meeting of the council last week, she shared a map showing more than 114,000 unconnected homes and businesses across the state with attendees.
But as she spoke about the West Virginians who will be waiting even longer for internet, her voice cracked. She then paused, excused herself and took a moment to compose.
“These are not just buildings, these are people,” she said. “Each and every dot on this map is personal for us.”
