(WCIV) — South Carolina, among three other states, had its initial proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program approved by the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The approval of the proposal allows South Carolina, Georgia, Iowa and Minnesota to request access to funding and begin implementing the broadband equity program, a known priority of the Biden-Harris administration’s “Internet for All” initiative. South Carolina can now request over $551 million to bridge the digital divide. “I’ve long said that we need to treat the information highway the same way we treat our interstate highways — with significant investments in expansion and efficiency,” said Rep. James E. Clyburn (D, S.C.-06). “The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s approval of $546 million for South Carolina’s BEAD program brings us one step closer to expanding broadband access to every corner of the state by connecting the final 31,750 underserved sites to the 21st century.” TheBroadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program is a $42.45 billion federal grant program authorized by President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It grants portions of these funds to each state to upgrade internet networks and ensure everyone has access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet, according to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Matching South Carolina, Georgia can now request over $1.3 billion, while Iowa can secure over $415 million and Minnesota over $651 million. “In the 21st century, a reliable Internet connection is a necessity that enables access to jobs, health care, and education. Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Department of Commerce is ensuring everyone in these four states and across the country has access to quality, affordable high-speed Internet,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Congratulations to the teams in Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, and South Carolina. We look forward to working with you to ensure that everyone in the States is connected.” Since the pandemic, internet access has been a front-and-center need in rural areas. Quarantines throughout the pandemic showed there was an extreme need for it since students and workers were having to toil remotely. One area where investment in broadband internet is already seen is in Spartanburg County, where AFL, a manufacturer of fiber optic cables, recently announced a multimillion-dollar expansion to its facility in the area. “This is a transformative time as we move forward with BEAD to bring high-speed Internet services to all remaining unserved and underserved South Carolinians and permanently close the digital divide,” said Jim Stritzinger, the director of the South Carolina Broadband Office. Categories: Local News, News Tags: South Carolina