Southern West Virginians rate connectivity

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — T-Mobile has completed a $200 million investment in West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice announced on Friday.

Gov. Justice said the cellular carrier has added 377 cell towers and upgraded 121 existing towers, all in an effort to bring 5-G service to state residents.

The state’s mountainous terrain and lower population in rural regions create challenges, but economic and educational development of the state, along with better access to health care, depends on connectivity.

Joel Tilley, a residential user of internet service and a cell phone customer, said on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, that the connection at his home needs improvement.

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“Very poor. Sometimes 15 minutes to get logged onto the internet,” said Tilley, who did not share his providers. “Then (with) the apps, most often you get a message, ‘Not responding.’ (I) sit there and wait and wait and wait. Not good.”

A middle school principal in Fayette County said the West Virginia Department of Education and his own county board of education give students the latest technology, all in an effort to help them learn.

“We’re a one-to-one county, which means every student has a device. Our county does a pretty good job,” said Chad Quesenberry, principal of Oak Hill Middle School. “If we buy a wave of computers, and they’re not what they need to be, those are phased out fairly quickly. All of our sixth-graders got brand new devices, this year.”

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Quesenberry said his county is “not 100 percent” but has better service than some regions.
“We still have students that are running satellite internet, if they have it at all,” said Quesenberry. We still have students without cell phones, we still have students, you know, families that live where they do not have access to internet, so providing those hotspots help.”

Gov. Justice said Friday that T-Mobile’s investment gives 90 percent of West Virginians access to 5G service.

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