The citizens of SC’s 2nd Congressional District deserve better broadband access
Today’s world requires us to be digitally connected.
Small businesses need internet access to promote their services and products online.
Those who are out of work need internet access to seek and apply for jobs.
Our children need internet access to complete assignments and develop the digital skills required to compete in tomorrow’s economy.
Health care providers need internet access to provide patients with high-quality care.
Yet nearly a half-million South Carolinians lack access to the internet at even the Federal Communications Commission’s minimum speed for connectivity.
This isn’t about income; these South Carolinians literally cannot buy internet access because the basic infrastructure does not exist.
During U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson’s tenure in Congress, only a tiny fraction of the 2nd Congressional District’s eligible locations have received federal funding for broadband.
For every dollar that South Carolina has received to improve telehealth, the 2nd District has received less than a half-penny in funding.
Meanwhile, our neighboring districts have received millions of dollars to expand broadband access.
Not about party
This isn’t about party, because Republicans and Democrats alike in Congress have worked to get existing funds back to their districts in South Carolina. The problem is that Wilson hasn’t been among them.
In 2001 Wilson voted to give money to large telecom monopolies so that they would provide broadband internet for everyone; it is nearly 20 years later and our district is still waiting on that promise.
Because of Wilson’s inaction, thousands of South Carolinians in the 2nd District now lack the resources they need to work, access telehealth services and educate their children in the midst of a global pandemic.
It is no longer an acceptable solution to rely on having broadband access only at a school, a library or in a McDonald’s parking lot. We must bring people’s homes and businesses into the digital landscape.
Too late
Wilson has now pledged to work with U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn on expanding broadband access, but his commitment comes two decades too late.
The people of the 2nd District are already behind.
Now that a global pandemic has made our decades-long lag on this issue even more stark — and now that he’s facing a competitive challenge — Wilson has suddenly taken the step of signing a letter with other South Carolina congressional members stating the need for broadband.
But signing your name to a letter isn’t action.
And it isn’t a plan.
Multi-point plan
Broadband access has been a top priority for me since I launched this campaign in April 2019, and I have a plan to get it done once I am in Congress.
I will:
▪ Work to unlock existing, available federal funds and grants from the Federal Communications Commission and U.S. Department of Agriculture to get our rural areas connected.
▪ Help create a nonpartisan South Carolina broadband task force of providers, experts and local government officials to help our communities become grant-ready — while also ensuring that we make effective use of our resources.
▪ Work with local South Carolina companies to ensure access across our district.
I will not dole out more taxpayer dollars to big telecom monopolies that have never made good on their promises to connect our rural communities.
▪ Support the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act.
▪ Create a robust constituent services program that will help small businesses, individuals and families navigate the resources available to help get them connected.
District deserves better
The 2nd District deserves a representative with the foresight to prepare for tomorrow’s economy and the next disaster — and one who will advocate for our district with federal agencies so that we’re not always left behind.
In November the 2nd District needs to elect a leader who will relentlessly fight for it every single day — and not just when it’s politically convenient to do so.
Adair Ford Boroughs is the Democratic Party candidate for South Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District seat.
This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 5:32 PM.