| Fayette County West Virginia residents told federal officials that the state's lack of high-speed internet access is hurting many businesses and life in general in West Virginia and damaging the state's ability to attract tourists.
The Beckley Register-Herald said that business owners, residents and county officials aired their frustrations at a meeting this week with an FCC official.
The meeting was at Lansing's Adventures on the New River Gorge.
The report said that Heidi Prior with ACE Adventure Resort says many visitors find it frustrating they can't get real broadband Wi-Fi, especially when they've previously been connected in places as far-flung as Alaska.
Federal Communications Commissioner Ajit Pai says he is working on streamlining the permitting process to decrease the cost of adding service lines or cell towers, which will allow smaller carriers to compete.
A report by the FCC ranked West Virginia 48th nationally for access to broadband internet service. | 
