South Carolina to receive more than $551M to expand high speed internet access

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South Carolina will receive more than $551 million from the federal government to deploy affordable and reliable high-speed internet around the state.

The announcement came recently from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The state will receive $551,535,983.05 for the high-speed internet, according to a news release. Officials estimate that currently 119,580 homes and small businesses statewide lack access to a high-speed internet connection.

The funding is part of the federal government’s “Internet for All” initiative and the funding is coming form the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program (BEAD), according to the release.

Under the program, states, Washington, D.C., and territories, can use funding from the BEAD program to administer grant programs for internet access expansion within their borders, the release said.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in the release that the funds will bring South Carolina “one step closer to ensuring that every household, including those in rural communities, has access to affordable high-speed internet.” She called the funds a “historic investment which will help to close the digital divide and create new opportunities for South Carolinians to succeed.”

The BEAD funding will be used to deploy or upgrade broadband networks to ensure access to reliable, affordable, high-speed Internet service. Once deployment goals are met, any remaining funding can be used on broadband adoption, training, and workforce development efforts, among other eligible uses, according to the release.

Details related to the allocation for the states, D.C., and territories are available online.