State needing high speed

West Virginia residents told federal officials that the state’s lack of high-speed internet access is hurting their quality of life and damaging the state’s ability to attract tourists. The Register-Herald reports that business owners, residents and county officials aired their frustrations at a discussion Tuesday at Lansing’s Adventures on the Gorge resort. Heidi Prior with ACE Adventure Resort says many visitors find it frustrating they can’t get Wi-Fi, especially when they’ve previously been connected in places as far-flung as Alaska. Federal Communications Commissioner Ajit Pai says he is working on streamlining the permitting process to decrease the cost of adding service lines or cell towers, which will allow smaller carriers to compete. An FCC report ranked West Virginia 48th nationally for access to broadband internet service.