Tag: U.S. Department of Commerce

State Broadband Plan Approved 

According to the West Virginia Broadband Enhancement Council, more than a third of all West Virginians do not have access to high-speed internet.

West Virginia has taken another step to improving broadband access for all. 

West Virginia is one of four states, as well as Puerto Rico, to have its Digital Equity Plan accepted by the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Acceptance of the plan will allow the states to access the $1.44 billion Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program when it launches in the coming months. 

According to the West Virginia Broadband Enhancement Council, more than a third of all West Virginians do not have access to high-speed internet, and many of those with access cannot afford the price of a connection or face other barriers to effectively use the internet.

The Digital Equity Plan proposes to realize affordable connectivity for all West Virginians, secure device access and affordability as well as improve the population’s digital skills.

Federal Ruling On Foreign Hardwood Imports Helps W.Va. Plywood/Veneer Industry

West Virginia’s hardwood industry supports about 10,000 jobs with more than $1 billion in economic output, and the ruling removes a major economic threat.

The U.S. Department of Commerce recently ruled that imports of hardwood plywood products completed in Vietnam, but mainly produced in China, violated federal antidumping laws.   

Keith Christman, national president of the Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood said the ruling follows a history of unfair trade with the Asian nations.

“We saw movement of that production from China to Vietnam with only minor modifications,” Christman said. “We saw a dramatic increase in imports of hardwood plywood from Vietnam, in fact, 800 percent from 2018 to 2022. And it was an important threat, a big threat to U.S. production of hardwood plywood.” 

Christman said the ruling puts about a 200 percent duty on those products.

“The Commerce Department determined this material was being dumped from Vietnam and using Chinese production and was subject to the duties that are, in fact, on Chinese hardwood plywood,” he said. 

Christman says West Virginia’s hardwood industry supports about 10,000 jobs with more than $1 billion in economic output, and the ruling removes a major economic threat.

“It’s important to maintain these fair trade practices and we think it’s a big win for workers in the United States and West Virginia as well,” Christman said.

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said in a press release that state hardwood plywood manufacturing has been disrupted in recent years due to China’s unfair import practices, and calls the ruling a major victory.   

“This is wonderful news for our manufacturers and workforce in our hardwood plywood and veneer industry in West Virginia” Capito said. “I will always stand in support of our manufacturers in West Virginia, and fight to make certain they are not improperly disadvantaged by China’s misleading economic practices.” 

The West Virginia Hardwood Alliance Zone notes on its website that the state puts out more than 1.5 billion square feet of wood panel and veneer annually. 

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