WV Lawmakers again push broadband accountability bill

West Virginia lawmakers are once again trying to hold internet providers accountable for service failures. The real question is whether the Legislature will follow through.

Earlier this month, the House overwhelmingly passed HB 4461, a consumer protection bill requiring internet and telecommunications providers to automatically credit customers when service outages last five or more days. The measure passed 92–0 and would mandate prorated bill credits when broadband becomes unusable, with exceptions for cyberattacks or natural disasters.

For many West Virginians, unreliable internet isn’t an inconvenience. It’s sadly routine. Large portions of the state still lack consistent broadband access, especially in rural areas. Both Democrats and Republicans have repeatedly highlighted that West Virginia is one of the most underserved states in the country when it comes to connectivity.

During a recent U.S. Senate hearing, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., asked the U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick how West Virginia can get high-speed internet to rural areas more affordably. 

During last month’s State of the State address, Gov. Patrick Morrisey celebrated the Trump administration’s efforts to improve broadband in West Virginia, as Black By God: The West Virginian reported. The administration awarded over $500 million in federal Broadband Equity Access and Development (BEAD) program funds to West Virginia.

Despite Morrisey’s praise of the current president—and repeated dismissal of the previous one—the BEAD program was originally signed into law by former president Joe Biden. His administration originally earmarked over $1 billion of BEAD funding for West Virginia—nearly double what Trump awarded the state. 

In other words, HB 4461 has been introduced in a state where broadband reliability is still far from guaranteed and attempts to improve that frequently stall or get watered down. 

This Isn’t the First Attempt

West Virginia lawmakers tried to pass a similar consumer broadband protection bill last year. The House approved it—but it never made it to the Senate floor.

The same fate hit a consumer data protection bill. It also failed to advance, despite strong House support.

Now the Legislature is trying again.

Del. Rick Hillenbrand, the lead sponsor of last year’s bill, is leading the charge once again as the lead sponsor of HB 4461. 

Key questions remain:

• Why didn’t last year’s broadband protection bill pass despite strong House support?
• What is different this year?
• How will lawmakers ensure HB 4461 actually reaches the Senate floor this time?

Those answers will determine whether HB 4461 becomes meaningful consumer protection or another stalled reform.

Why Broadband Accountability Matters

In a society where telehealth, remote work, online education, and digital services are expanding, service reliability is no longer optional infrastructure. It is economic infrastructure.

Automatic outage credits won’t fix broadband access gaps, but they would ensure accountability for providers operating in already underserved communities.

Even if HB 4461 passes, for the many West Virginians who’ve spent decades paying high prices for inconsistent service, that accountability could be long overdue.

HB 4461 is not just about service credits. It is a test of whether the Legislature can move from recognizing the state’s digital infrastructure challenges to actually fixing them.

Other Tech Bills to Watch

Several technology-related proposals have been introduced this session but have not yet been put on committee agendas:

• HB 5172 — Low Earth Orbit Broadband Internet Connection Fund to expand rural satellite access
  
• HB 5205 — AI classroom policy development and digital literacy standards
  
• HB 4496 — Labeling requirements for AI-generated media and deepfakes