Residents of the Capon Valley View Senior Center gather for lunch to hear from area leaders and fellow residents regularly. But last month, when Hardy Telecommunications (Lost River, W.Va.) Assistant General Manager Derek Barr stopped by, residents were treated to the unveiling of the provider’s latest effort to bridge the state’s digital divide: free public internet access.
Using funds received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service Community Connect Program, Hardy was able to bring 24/7 public Wi-Fi access to the facility, as well as create an office with two computers and a shared printer for public use.
With speeds of 300 Mbps download and 150 Mbps upload, residents now can use high-quality internet for telehealth programs, videoconferencing, and much more. Hardy also is working to upgrade equipment to eventually offer faster speeds.
“The Community Connect broadband funding program focuses on improving broadband access to a variety of people, and that’s why serving a community center in a new area was a big draw for Hardy Telecommunications,” Barr said. “By establishing free broadband access in this Hampshire County Committee on Aging senior center, we bring the internet to a diverse group of residents, many of whom are on fixed incomes and haven’t truly experienced the benefits of broadband before.”
Joining Barr and others from Hardy Telecommunications were their partners for the project, representatives from the Hampshire County Commission, and the Hampshire County Committee on Aging. The regional coordinator for U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) was also on hand to celebrate the occasion.
“Expanding dependable broadband access for Hampshire County is one of our top priorities,” said Hampshire County Commission President Brian W. Eglinger. “This Community Connect Project in particular is vital for our senior population. Senior citizens need broadband access just like all age groups. It could be for important telehealth appointments, or to keep in touch with family around the country. The county really saw this project as an opportunity to work with a dependable communications company in an area of our county that really wanted and needed broadband access.”
The center is the first location to go online as part of Hardy’s Community Connect build-out in the area. The organization expects to offer service to approximately 600 other locations throughout Hampshire County through the project.
“West Virginia lags behind most of the country in broadband access,” Barr said. “Our mountainous terrain and sparse population present unique challenges. Hardy Telecommunications is a small provider, but we’re dedicated to bringing modern, affordable, reliable broadband access to as many West Virginians as possible. In today’s society, broadband access is essential, and West Virginians deserve the same opportunities as citizens in other states.”