Whether you’re a small business owner looking to develop your online presence and reach a broader audience, or a teacher who needs to send a homework assignment to students who missed a class, broadband access is critical in today’s world. It keeps us connected, has the ability to break down barriers, and leads to significant economic growth.

Today, I am proud to say that connection is closer than ever.

Last week, the state’s Final Proposal under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program was approved, clearing the way for roughly 73,650 unserved and underserved locations across West Virginia to become eligible for high-speed broadband infrastructure. This milestone is more than just dollars and cables–it is about making sure West Virginia’s promise is fully within reach for every household, business, and classroom.

The BEAD program, and the funding for it, was made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). As I was helping craft and negotiate the IIJA, I worked diligently to advocate for the creation of this program. I did this because I know what a tremendous opportunity this represents for our state and the future of connectivity here.

What makes this moment especially significant is the timing. A recent report from the West Virginia Office of Broadband shows that no state in the country has increased internet connectivity faster than West Virginia since 2023–the number of households with broadband rose by nearly 2.6 percent in one year, the largest improvement nationally. We’re gaining momentum, and this BEAD funding will only help build on that. We are closer than ever to shrinking the digital divide.

Since day one, connecting West Virginia has been a top priority of mine. This led me to the launch of my Capito Connect plan in 2015. From then on, we have made great strides when it comes to connectivity in our state. Capito Connect serves as a roadmap for bringing affordable, high-speed internet access to homes, businesses and classrooms in West Virginia. And it has created the platform to facilitate conversations with people all across our state about the connectivity issues they face, and the urgent need for reliable broadband access. These recent wins that we’ve experienced are exactly what I had in mind when I launched this program.

The recent BEAD announcement gives us the boost we need to act, while Capito Connect provides the framework to apply it wisely. With federal funding through the BEAD program secured, we can now shift into making the goal of connectivity a reality.

So, why does this matter?

It matters because West Virginia’s communities have so much potential. Communities like Thomas and Davis in Tucker County or the whitewater resorts in Fayette County need robust broadband to fully capture the potential of a tourism economy. These communities can capitalize on their natural beauty and attract a technology-based workforce that simply needs a computer and strong, stable connectivity to reach clients around the globe.

Connectivity matters because our state cannot prosper, and families cannot thrive, if we lack this valuable resource.

In addition to our growth rate, the state has improved download speeds by 83 percent and upload speeds by 37 percent since 2022–evidence that this is not merely access, but quality access. These improvements are cause for celebration–but not for complacency.

As we begin the build-out, I promise that I will stay in the fight for you. I will keep working with federal agencies, state officials, and local stakeholders to make sure these BEAD dollars reach their intended destinations. I will hold infrastructure partners to high standards. And I will ensure Capito Connect remains not just a slogan, but a lived reality for West Virginians.

Today, we are moving from promise to progress. With our BEAD approval and the framework of Capito Connect, we are charting a path toward a fully connected West Virginia–one where a child in a remote community has the same opportunities as any student in the United States. And where our small businesses, medical facilities, and communities can compete and thrive in the 21st-century economy.

Republican U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito serves on the Appropriations, Commerce, and Rules Committees, and she is chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. She also chairs the Senate Republican Policy Committee, making her the fourth highest ranked Senate Republican.