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Berkeley County Residents Encouraged To Take Better-Internet Survey

by The Berkeley Observer
Information gathered from the survey will shape a five-year broadband plan for the state. (CREDIT: Pixabay)

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – A state-wide campaign, GetConnectedSC, is underway to transform how Berkeley County residents and the rest of the state engage with the online world.

The campaign is currently conducting the “better-internet survey” to capture the barriers to internet adoption of unserved, underserved and underrepresented communities statewide. Berkeley County residents are encouraged to take part in the survey. It can be completed at this link.

Information gathered from the survey will shape a five-year broadband plan for the state.

“Providing access to reliable, high-speed internet is one of the most important things we can do to ensure the prosperity of our rural communities in South Carolina,” Gov. Henry McMaster said in a news release. “In order to fully take advantage of the opportunity available to us, we need South Carolinians to participate in this survey process.”

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The GetConnectedSC initiative is part of a nationwide effort to improve broadband access. In 2021, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) which included $65 billion for the deployment of broadband infrastructure development and digital inclusion efforts across the country.

“I have been a persistent advocate for incorporating local community feedback in our efforts to make high-speed internet service accessible and affordable for every South Carolinian, and that is why I am excited to help announce the launch of “GetConnectedSC,” said Congressman Jim Clyburn. “This critical initiative was authorized and funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and will bring us one step closer to closing the digital divide in South Carolina.”

As a required first step in the deployment of these funds, South Carolina was granted planning funds for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity (DE) programs which ultimately lead to additional grants.

The BEAD and DE planning processes extend through the summer of 2023 and culminate with the formal submission of the SC Five-Year Broadband and Digital Equity Plans to the federal government in August.

To learn more, visit https://www.getconnectedsc.org/.

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