Yassini believes creating a public-private partnership is the
best approach for addressing connectivity in the Mountain State,
as it would empower businesses and citizens to make progress
while the state sorts out its financial shortcomings. In 2008, he
launched the Yassini Broadband Knowledge Center in Boston,
MA, an organization that offers research grants and facilities
for investigating new ideas in broadband technology. According to Yassini, informed state and private leaders know broadband can create smart cities and campuses and encourage the
adoption of technology. As a pioneer in broadband research,
he suggests conducting research through West Virginia’s many
universities to gather insight into low-cost technologies that will
enable affordable broadband for all West Virginians.
However, because of the importance of broadband, Yassini
believes the state should do whatever is necessary to secure the
appropriate infrastructure. Senate Bill 16, which was introduced
during the 2016 legislative session, suggested incentivizing providers to build out the last legs of the internet network that
connects homes and businesses to the middle-mile network. “It
was very encouraging to see the state Senate approve this bill,”
says Yassini. “As I understand it, the incentives would have
enabled about 12,000 homes and businesses to get internet for
the first time. That would have been a good step for our state.”
A Boost to Business and Budget
A powerful, dependable broadband network has the potential to turn the tides of West Virginia’s economic struggle. A
superior network would attract new businesses and help the
state retain its waning millennial population.
Jason Webb would
like to welcome
UBER
to the
Mountain
State!
I helped bring Uber to West
Virginia. If I can help launch
your initiative or provide site
selection for your company,
please call (304) 415-WEBB
or email [email protected]
52
west virginia executive
“West Virginia faces a budget hole, and not an insignificant
amount,” says Yassini. “It is widely known that broadband is
an engine that can pay for itself over the course of years. It is
possible investments in broadband could help the state reduce
that budgetary imbalance by creating more jobs and increasing
state tax revenue. I believe that has happened in New Hampshire, where our Broadband Center of Excellence is located.
Using funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the state built 865 miles of fiber optic
network that extends through all 10 counties. This network
is used by various state agencies and is a tremendous asset to
New Hampshire citizens.”
Yassini also suggests that broadband could help West Virginia
save money by creating a centrally located hub to consolidate
public services. Instead of every town and county using their
own budget to pay for internet and phone services, Yassini recommends a broadband network with the power to meet the
needs of the entire state.
“Local government is doing commerce the old-fashioned
way,” he says. “If you had a broadband network, you could
consolidate the services everybody needs for distributing police
and fire department s, city payrolls and building permits. There
are so many different ways states use information and services,
and you have to pay money for the network and telephone lines
anyway. With broadband, you could put them all in a central
location instead of every town having its own system. You need
a major, central location—central instead of distributive. That
is the old-town mentality. Start consolidating.”
Congratulations, Debrina,
on being named a
2016 Sharp Shooter!
Your friends in Southern West Virginia
are proud of all you have accomplished.