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The tri-county region in South Carolina is experiencing the roar of drilling machines as more households, offices, and community centers are being connected to high-speed broadband service. This effort is thanks to federal funding, which has made “digital inclusion” a priority in the state. The goal is to bring fast, reliable, and affordable internet service to around 2 million households in underserved rural communities, with a particular emphasis on children who were negatively impacted by the lack of internet access during the pandemic.

South Carolina received a 1 million allocation in federal money earlier this summer, which will be used to lay fiber optic cable for broadband expansion. This allocation comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) signed by President Joe Biden in November 2021. The state estimates that it will receive the funds in the first quarter of 2025. To access the funds, South Carolina needs to submit a five-year Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Action Plan to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) by August 28.

The state has already started making progress in expanding broadband access. The South Carolina Broadband Office received its first allocation of 0 million from the American Rescue Plan in May 2022. 0 million of this allocation has been committed to award grants to 15 internet service providers in 34 counties, enabling them to run costly fiber optic lines to more homes and businesses. As of March 31, there were 191,548 households statewide without internet service, but this number is expected to decrease by about 58,000 households by the end of the year.

In the tri-county region specifically, companies like Home Telecom, Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative, and AT&T are hiring crews to install conduit for fiber optic cable. Home Telecom, for example, has spent around million on installing fiber optic cable in its service area, and the company expects to be reimbursed through state and federal grants. Other areas in the three counties still have slow or no internet service, and efforts are being made to address those gaps.

To ensure the success of rural broadband expansion, it is important to educate people about the benefits of internet access. The Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Home Telecom to raise awareness and educate residents about the importance of internet service. The chamber also has plans to upgrade community centers with computers, low-cost Chromebooks, and free internet connections to provide residents with access to essential services like mental health and drug treatment.

Efforts like these are crucial to bridging the digital divide and ensuring that all communities have access to the opportunities and resources that high-speed broadband can provide.

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