BAMBERG COUNTY, S.C. — Bamberg County received a $12 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to expand broadband throughout the county.
This expansion will bring high-speed internet to 5,000 people, 250 businesses, 60 farms and over 2000 homes.
Willie Todd Jr., the president of Denmark Technical College, said this expansion will make a difference in education.
“This is going to be game changing for our community and our college because realistically, what broadband does is provide access when you’re in a rural community that’s lacking, and so the access that is going to provide for us is to be able to offer additional online programming and even to support our students and many of our programs that require additional online support,” Todd said.
Bamberg Mayor Nancy Foster says the affordable prices make it accessible for residents.
"Bamberg is very rural, not a lot of income here. Our people are really wonderful people, but just don't have a lot of money," Foster said. "They promised to keep the rates down low. It has to maintain itself, so that's going to be a real plus for our citizens. They're trying to keep the rates around $50-60 a month."
Bamberg County Administrator Joey Preston says this will attract businesses to the area.
“Highspeed broadband ... Of course, the tornado came right down Main Street and affected all those buildings and the businesses that are there and actually help the City of Bamberg rebuild because with highspeed internet," said Preston. "With broadband, that’s going to help compliment the downtown, and it will help to bring more business to downtown Bamberg.”
The entire expansion project is estimated to take about five years.