SC to Receive $551 Million For Broadband Expansion

The Biden Administration has dedicated $42.45 billion to its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program as part of the “Internet for All” initiative. This initiative is a nationwide effort to ensure all Americans have access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet service. South Carolina is set to receive $551.5 million of these funds. In response to the news, South Carolina Broadband Office Director Jim Stritzinger stated, “Today was a historic event, and we are incredibly grateful for the additional resources to expand our workforce and deliver high-speed internet access to even more homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions throughout South Carolina.”

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has estimated that about 119,580 households and small businesses in South Carolina do not have access to high-speed internet. While the BEAD funds will help, South Carolina lawmakers and Governor McMaster have already implemented a plan to expand broadband access across the state. Last year, they allocated $400 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to broadband infrastructure. Stritzinger also added “We’re in great shape in South Carolina. We’re moving quickly and we have a lot of financial resources right now. So we’re not waiting for BEAD, we are making ARPA money come to life on a daily basis right now.”

More information about how South Carolina is implementing their plan to expand broadband access click here.