Held back by lack of service

Dear Editor:

I am writing on behalf of the many law-abiding residents in Berkeley Springs and Morgan County who demand high-speed internet in the area. We are still in the dial-up area and need to have high speed.

The lack of high-speed service is detrimental to my family’s financial welfare. My wife is currently in communication with the State Department of Rehabilitation Services to try to earn income due to the fact that she has a disability called Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which does not allow her to work outside the home. Due to this, we are struggling financially because of this tough economy and my income being the sole income.

Doctors have suggested that my wife consider taking a medical transcriptionist on-line home study course, since this work can be done in the home. Since we cannot get high-speed internet in our area, my wife cannot achieve this academic and financial goal. She is willing to work despite her disability, but not having high-speed internet makes it very difficult to any home-based internet work.

We have law-abiding citizens here who go to school online and have home-based businesses (including me). We require high-speed internet to get a degree or build our business. It is so vital to building up business in West Virginia. Dial-up cannot achieve this!

Most states in this wonderful country have high-speed ready and have no more dial-up, but I have heard 20% of West Virginia is still dealing with dial-up.

I hope Governor Joe Manchin and other state and county officials will do something quick about bringing high-speed internet to our area. Contact
Verizon and make some kind of deal with them to begin internet service.

John Amorelli
Berkeley Springs