Reply #17: I realize that this map alone is flimsy. This is only one part of the problem, [View All]

[Blue State Bandit]

but their is much evidence to back up my claim. This map is the G3 wide-area network coverage area (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution-Data_Optimized">EVDO). Combine this with the two high-speed internet access companies offering this service in West Virginia, and you begin to see the bigger picture.

Comcast and Hughsnet are the only service providers available. If you go to http://comcast.usdirect.com/west-virginia-comcast.html">Comcast's West Virginia service availability page and scroll down to the section listing towns in WV, most of the links say Sorry, but Comcast does not service the (insert town) West Virginia area at this time.

HughesNet is a satellite internet service provider. The http://agent.hughesnet.com/res_serviceofferings.cfm">price is the first impediment. $60 a month is no small change if your making $30K a year. And then there's accessing the network.

If you live in the mountains, it is hit or miss as to whether you can even access the sat network. If you can not see the southern sky, be it mountains or trees blocking you view, you get no access. It's called line of sight and the geo-sync sats HughsNet uses rest stationary in the southern sky.

There's plenty of dial-up access in West Virginia, but who here has ever tried to watch youtube on dial-up?

Barack Obama has put the lack of broadband internet access to rural America front and center in his technology platform. I believe that if he had spent more time on the ground in WV his numbers would have been better. Combine this with Bill Clinton running around the backwoods telling West Virginians that Obama and his supporters think that we are better than them, and these numbers make more sense.