[ infrastructure ]
Connecting
West Virginia
As West Virginia leaders and
legislators continue to push fast,
reliable broadband to revitalize the
struggling economy, Dr. Rouzbeh Yassini
offers insight into how the Mountain State
can become a global leader in connectivity.
Over the last decade, high-speed internet has become a necessity in business, education and health care. As providers and
legislators work to improve connectivity in the Mountain State,
many West Virginians still do not have access to what the Federal Communications Commission defines as advanced broadband. However, as demonstrated by the recent efforts to rebuild
West Virginia communities devastated by flooding, the Mountain
State has friends across the globe who care about her well-being.
Dr. Rouzbeh Yassini, founder and chief executive officer of
YAS Capital Partners, LLC and executive
director of the University of New HampDr. Rouzbeh
shire’s Broadband Center of Excellence,
Yassini
has a heart for West Virginia and her current broadband struggles. Backed by an
international reputation for broadband
expertise, Yassini is confident the Mountain State’s broadband solution is simple
and imminent.
Many Paths, One Goal
It was as a student at West Virginia University (WVU) that
Yassini first discovered his passion for the satellite communications industry, which led to a lifelong pursuit of helping people
get connected. Known in the industry as the father of the cable
modem, decades after graduating from WVU and becoming a
distinguished alumnus, Yassini created and patented a viable
cable modem and later made broadband IP available to the
global cable industry.
“This topic is burning me inside and
out,” says Yassini. “There are an estimated 30 million Americans and 4 billion
people worldwide who are experiencing the same pain as the citizens of West
Virginia. Broadband is one of the 21st century’s necessary utilities—not a luxury—
because of its strong impact on commerce,
education and society.”
Samantha Cart
www.wvexecutive.com
summer 2016
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