Capito Says Rural Broadband Protection Act Will Bring Connectivity to West Virginia
The senator says the new law will strengthen vetting of companies participating in federal broadband programs.
WASHINGTON, June 25, 2026 – Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., is imploring internet service providers to deliver on commitments made to bring high-speed internet to her constituents by passing the Rural Broadband Protection Act.
“Time and time again, internet service providers have come to West Virginia and promised a fix to our connectivity issues using federal resources we’ve fought to secure. Too often, these assurances have failed to materialize,” Capito said, in an op-ed published Thursday in The Washington Times.
The mountains in West Virginia create challenges when bringing connectivity to the state, causing the state to lag in infrastructure deployment. Many West Virginians still lack access to reliable, high-speed internet, creating challenges for residents in the state.
To combat this, Capito introduced the Rural Broadband Protection Act, imploring the Federal Communications Commission to establish a vetting process for applicants within 180 days to create a more thorough process to verify ISPs that seek to participate in the FCC’s universal service programs.
The legislation was signed into law by President Trump in May.
The law will ensure that the Universal Service Fund’s subsidies go to companies that have a successful record and demonstrate sound judgment in deploying broadband in hard-to-serve areas, Capito said.
There are penalties for pre-authorization efforts set at $9,000 per violation, with at least 30 percent of the applicant's total project subject to forfeiture.
Capito explained, “By verifying that providers can actually deliver on the commitments made to bring high-speed internet to rural areas, we can maximize the influx of broadband dollars coming to West Virginia and move towards our goal of closing the digital divide in communities of all sizes across our state.”
The senator says that the state has been honest about the challenges and requirements to fix connectivity issues, and now it is time for ISPs to uphold their promises and bring connectivity to the state.
