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Dear Friend,
Thank you for subscribing to my broadband and connectivity newsletter! 2020 has shown us just how critical high-speed internet access is for education, health care, staying in touch with loved ones, and our state’s small businesses. In today’s modern economy, access to broadband is vital, and I have made it a key priority to ensure that all South Carolinians are able to reach their full potential.
Do you know of or have a family member in South Carolina without quality access to the internet? |
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If yes, where do they live? |
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Don’t forget, you can sign up for all my issue-specific newsletters, in addition to my weekly update, here. Also, please remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube for regular updates on how I am serving the people of South Carolina here in Washington.
Our state is home to some of the most creative and innovative Americans, but many of them do not have meaningful access to the internet. Across South Carolina, more than 650,000 citizens either lack internet or adequate internet speeds and that is simply unacceptable. Nationally, this number nears 20 million.
In the last year, I’ve worked across the federal government to secure almost $27 million in investments for high-speed rural broadband for South Carolina. In the Senate, I’m proud to have led on three bills ensuring South Carolinians have the ability to connect to the internet: The Connecting Minority Communities Act, the Governors Broadband Development Fund, and the State Fix Act with Senator Graham.
The State Fix Act builds upon the Governors Broadband Development Fund Senator Graham and I introduced earlier this year, and would help promote rural and underserved broadband access in our state by getting them the necessary resources to get connected to the internet. The Connecting Minority Communities Act would similarly work to expand internet access for minority communities, including ones surrounding Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
I have also joined the South Carolina delegation in writing a letter urging congressional leadership to work on broadband funding.
The rural roll-out of high-speed broadband will allow for a wide range of improvements for everyday South Carolinians, including enhanced healthcare access, modernizing workforce and educational resources, and revolutionizing how farmers approach agriculture. As South Carolina grows, we must ensure that everyone has access to the global economy, telehealth centers, and other opportunities that comes with broadened internet access.
Thanks for reading my first broadband and connectivity newsletter, and over the coming months, I’ll continue to stay in touch on what I am working on in the Senate and what it means for South Carolinians.
Have a great week!
Sincerely,
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