WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
Voices across South Carolina recognize the impact that fair, transparent utility pole processes can have on expanding broadband deployment across our state – helping families, students, businesses, farms, and more get connected.
These are just a few of the comments that leaders and organizations across the state have made on this issue:
“Broadband connectivity is a powerful catalyst for economic and social advancement. It is no longer a luxury – it is a necessity, critical to ensuring a level playing field for those in rural areas. Emergency response, health care access, education – all rely increasingly on Internet access. Children in rural schools must have the same advantages as those in more developed areas.
In South Carolina, nearly half a million people (434,725) are below the Federal Communications Commission standard for broadband connectivity – 94% of them are in rural areas. 160,655 people in rural South Carolina are completely unserved.”
– South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster
“Expanded (broadband) access equals expanded opportunity — something every South Carolinian deserves,”
“Our goal is to try to incentivize capital investment in the state by defining payment for those who are not in the (utility pole) business, who would want to access poles that are existing to run wire, instead of burying cable as many are doing presently,”
– South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Luke Rankin
I want us to look at and see if there’s anything we can do to expedite broadband all over the state, because if we miss this opportunity, I don’t think it’ll ever come again. I want to make sure that we’re not the state that’s left here with the doughnut holes all over the state, don’t have service.”
– South Carolina State Senate Finance Committee Chairman Hugh Leatherman