Several additional communities in West Virginia are enjoying access to DSL broadband thanks for recent efforts by Verizon. And with support from Connected Nation, a DC-based nonprofit technology group, 2008 should be even better. From a Sunday Charleston Gazette-Mail article:

Since August, Verizon, along with other high-speed Internet providers in the state, has helped Connected Nation map the state’s broadband availability. The idea is to develop a comprehensive plan to provide high-speed service to rural areas.

About 70 percent of broadband providers in the state, including small entrepreneurs, have provided information, said Brian Mefford, chief executive officer of Connected Nation.

Connected Nation was launched in Kentucky, where about 95 percent of citizens have access to high-speed Internet service. Brian Mefford of Connected Nation was a featured speaker at November’s Create WV Conference. His presentation can be found here.

This is good progress and congratulations should go out to state government, local government, volunteer and commercial sector leaders who have worked together to make this happen. Here’s also hoping that we will all stick together and keep the foot on the pedal so that we can achieve the level of coverage that Kentucky has within a very short period!