ISSUE: Expanding Internet access

OUR VIEW: S.C. should push for broadband expansion

Charleston Sen. Glenn McConnell, writing in Saturday’s Times and Democrat, cited the role of legislative oversight in a pending arrangement to expand the state’s broadband system.

Specifically, he referenced the Legislature creating the EBS Commission, a group of private business persons with the expertise necessary to take full advantage of the potential created by the Federal Communications Commission’s restructuring the spectrum licensed to S.C. ETV.

“If we had not put legislative restrictions on ETV’s ability to lease its spectrum, it could have obligated its licensed spectrum for 30 years at what we believed were bargain-basement prices,” McConnell wrote.

He says legislative diligence resulted in doubling the revenues offered in 2006 by a broadband provider to ETV. Instead of the $67.5 million offered by one company, that company and another provider now have submitted a joint bid of $143 million.

The achievement is important in a state where the U.S. Census Bureau reports that 40 percent of homes don’t have access to the Internet. It is good news.

So too is the opportunity being cited by U.S. House Majority Whip James Clyburn. He reports that $7.2 billion is up for grabs to improve broadband capabilities in unserved and underserved America communities as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Clyburn wants to ensure that rural and underserved areas of South Carolina benefit from the available funding for broadband expansion, which is intended to increase jobs, spur investments in technology and infrastructure, and provide long-term economic benefits.

“Internet access is key to education and employment in today’s society,” Clyburn said. “Areas like the I-95 corridor cannot compete in a global economy if they don’t have the broadband infrastructure available to support sustainable communities.”

“This is a one-time opportunity that South Carolina must seize to improve its broadband infrastructure and bring rural and underserved communities into the 21st century,” Clyburn said. “We have a chance to be a leader in providing connectivity for all our residents, and I don’t want to see us miss this opportunity.”

Already Clyburn has held discussions with stakeholders interested in applying for the funds. Each is already involved in broadband initiatives in the state.

Importantly, Clyburn is urging applicants to work in concert with each other rather than duplicating efforts. Coordinating efforts statewide should make South Carolina more attractive as applicants here compete to obtain the much-needed funding.

For more information about the broadband funds available and how to apply, visit http://broadbandusa.sc.egov.usda.gov/. The application deadline for the first round of funding will close on Aug. 14.

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