The Post & Courier
No one knew for sure if the rural town of Allendale could get internet access by installing new equipment atop a state-owned TV tower. A state agency, to its credit, took a chance anyway, and its success already is paying off there and should serve as a model for connecting other parts of our state.
The S.C. Office of Regulatory Staff did the experimental project with $393,000 of CARES Act money, and it took only 61 days to retrofit two SCETV towers and get the first household online, then dozens more, with a special focus on households with school-age children. The internet provider, Revolution D, is offering free trials through Oct. 31, after which households will pay $34.95 a month.
Jim Stritzinger, broadband coordinator with the Office of Regulatory Staff, said the state’s ultimate goal is to get a wired internet connection to every household and business. The pandemic has shown how crucial that connectivity is to obtain health care, attend virtual school, apply for jobs, pay bills and much more. But running new wires across the state, especially its remote rural areas, will be a long, costly and complex job.