COLUMBIA, S.C. — The US Department of Agriculture has invested $9.75 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure to create or improve rural e-Connectivity for 3,911 households in Orangeburg County.
The county will use ReConnect Program grant funding to deploy a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband network capable of simultaneous transmission rates of 100 megabits per second (Mbhs) or greater. The funded service areas will include 3,911 households, 21 farms, 17 rural businesses, 13 educational facilities, nine critical community facilities and a health care center.
US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said that the core mission of the USDA is to "increase rural prosperity through boosting economic opportunity in rural America."
"“We know that rural communities need robust, modern infrastructure to thrive, and that includes having access to broadband e-Connectivity," he said.
South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers said, “High-speed internet in rural areas helps farmers connect to new markets and promote their businesses – and what’s good for farmers is good for their communities. This initiative will boost Orangeburg County and the rest of the state.”
The ReConnect Program was initiated in 2018 when Congress provided $600 million to the USDA to expand broadband infrastructure and services in America. Rules were established for applying for loans, grants, and loan-grant combinations that would enable the federal government to partner with the private sector and rural communities to build modern broadband infrastructure in areas with insufficient internet service.
