“ We realized , again , the inequities within our Appalachian regional system — we couldn ’ t access vital needs for schooling , work and health , which we needed in order to move forward . We are a global world now , and if we expect our children and adults to be able to compete in a global society , then they have to be able to connect to the internet .”
Photo by Appalachian Regional Commission . from the ARC , I ask where they are working in education and how we can streamline and continue that process to make it easier for students to move from K-12 to postsecondary education and then into the workforce , all the while being the most efficient and effective .”
Manchin ’ s top priorities as ARC federal co-chair are to support the creation of economic opportunities in the Appalachian region , improve broadband access and critical infrastructure in Appalachian communities and address the region ’ s opioid crisis . Nominated by President Joe Biden , Manchin works directly with ARC ’ s 13 member governors , program managers and a network of local development districts to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth throughout Appalachia .
“ While wider broadband network initiatives have been in the works for years , the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the immediate and crucial role access to internet has in
Photo by Appalachian Regional Commission .
Appalachia ,” Manchin says . “ I think it is ironic that the ARC started out as a highway project and now , this many years later , the more critical factor is the broadband highway , and that is just as essential as the scenic highway was in 1965 .”
According to Manchin , at the onset of the pandemic , many students could not attend class virtually , many parents could not work from home and many people could not access telehealth services due to lack of internet access .
“ We realized , again , the inequities within our Appalachian regional system — we couldn ’ t access vital needs for schooling , work and health , which we needed in order to move forward ,” she says . “ We are a global world now , and if we expect our children and adults to be able to compete in a global society , then they have to be able to connect to the internet .”
In much the same way building I-68 and I-79 was a challenging project due to Appalachia ’ s terrain , reaching rural communities with broadband internet service is made more difficult by the very mountains the region holds dear .
“ The other inequity we find so often is making broadband reach out to the last mile . There may only be two families out at the end of that hollow , but those two families need internet the same way people in downtown Charleston need internet , and they deserve it ,” Manchin says . “ The good thing is , with the money the president has put into infrastructure , broadband is certainly a part of that . It is expensive , but I think if the states and the providers can come together , we ought to be able to find a way to do it more efficiently than trying to do it community by community .”
Outside of access to the internet being a necessity of a 21st century lifestyle , lack of broadband access can result in a lack of medical care , especially in rural areas .
“ The bigger issue addressed in helping support broadband is supporting telehealth because in many of these communities , especially within that last mile , if people need medical help , it may be an hour or hour and a half drive to the nearest
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