USDA Invests $9.1M in Broadband for Rural South Carolina Communities
Staff Report From South Carolina CEO
Wednesday, February 26th, 2020
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development South Carolina State Director Debbie Turbeville announced USDA has invested $9.1 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve e-Connectivity for 6,251 homes in rural Kershaw County. This is one of many funding announcements in the first round of USDA’s ReConnect Pilot Program investments.
“High-speed broadband e-Connectivity is critical to increasing access to health care and educational opportunities and strengthening economic development efforts in rural communities,” Turbeville said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural communities in deploying this critical infrastructure, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
TruVista Communications Inc. will use a $9.1 million ReConnect grant to deploy 257 miles of fiber-optic cable in unserved areas of Kershaw County. This investment is expected to cover an 81-square-mile area that includes 6,251 rural households, 24 farms, 15 businesses, four critical community facilities, three educational facilities and a health care center.