Internet access is coming for 27,994 SC homes and 771 businesses.

And it is to be working in Lexington County before Christmas.

That's good news for rural students and their families.

The SC Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS)  will approve $26.1 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act aid for 81 applications submitted by 13 broadband service providers.

This will make high-speed broadband available to homes, businesses, schools, health care facilities, and other institutions in unserved areas in Lexington County and across South Carolina.  

Broadband advocate Lou Kennedy, CEO of Nephron Parmaceuticals in Lexington County, said, "There is no issue more important to the long term economic wellbeing of our state than access to rural broadband. In a country and state as great as ours, students deserve to have the tools they need to achieve their dreams – and that includes internet.”

Based on the applications received, the average federal CARES Act funding is about $884 per home and business.  
Act 142 allocated $50 million in CARES Act funds to assist covid-19 impacted individuals, families, and communities.  
Of that total, $20 million was for the Online Learning Initiative, and $29.7 million to support broadband infrastructure expansion. Projects must be completed no later than December 18, 2020.  
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