The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted disparities that families across South Carolina have been facing for years, especially when it comes to high-speed internet.

Across our nation 18 million Americans lack basic broadband internet access, and experts agree that the actual number is higher.

South Carolina has been considered a “broadband desert” for some time with more than 500,000 people lacking reliable access to the internet – and I have been working with my colleagues in Washington and lawmakers here in the state to ensure that these concerns are being addressed.

It’s no luxury

COVID-19 has forced the world to conduct school, business and everyday life virtually, making it apparent that connectivity is no longer a luxury.

It’s not about scrolling through Twitter or compulsively checking our email; rather, access has become necessary to make sure our kids can learn, our communities can receive health care and our small businesses can sell their goods online as their storefronts are shuttered.

Even our newspapers and public safety information during emergencies are digitized, and a lack of access to this vital information increases the vulnerability of residents during this pandemic and other natural disasters.

Many South Carolina families, businesses and underserved communities across our nation are feeling the burden of limited or no access to broadband.

Growing up in a poverty-stricken single-parent household, I am aware of the challenges that low-income families with children face, especially as it relates to dividing resources.

And while we work to bridge racial, economic and housing disparities, we must also prioritize bridging the digital divide.

Falling through cracks

In particular many of our nation’s kids are struggling to prepare for a rapidly evolving digital world.

They are expected to compete for opportunities such as jobs, internships and college admissions — and also find access to financial and health resources and the necessities of everyday life — without the tools required to do so.

We cannot let that happen.

We cannot let a generation of young, promising Americans fall through the cracks.

In South Carolina schools around 40,000 students lost contact with their teachers and courses during the pandemic.

Although the number of out-of-touch students has now been reduced to 3,000, broadband issues continue to deepen the divide within communities in our state and students in our classrooms.

With many facilities that once provided free internet to the public now closed — such as libraries, coffee shops, and bookstores — more and more students are falling behind their peers.

And with some school districts currently delaying in-person learning in the upcoming school year, students without the necessary digital resources will remain at risk of falling behind.

Businesses at risk

Education is not the only space that is affected by the lack of broadband: patients struggle to access telehealth services, making them more vulnerable to exposure to the virus.

Small businesses are also at risk.

In our state’s tourism-driven economy, access to the internet has allowed some small businesses to remain afloat while those with connectivity issues have fallen behind — including many business owners and entrepreneurs in rural areas who now have a limited ability to participate in the global economy.

At a disadvantage

Prior to the pandemic, financial technology spiked due to the convenience of online banking, contributing to the closure of brick and mortar banks. With bank branches limiting services and hours — and some requiring appointments — consumers are forced to conduct business online.

Today the once-easy transaction of transferring money between accounts has become an obstacle putting consumers in rural areas at a disadvantage.

Legislation will help

That’s why I introduced two bills in Washington addressing broadband issues facing many in our country: the Connecting Minority Communities Act and the Governors’ Broadband Development Fund.

If passed, both bills would expand access to broadband to folks in underserved communities — whether it’s our Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority-serving institutions or those living in rural communities

My legislation would incentivize development and create more opportunity for Americans to thrive.

Bridge the gap

It’s crucial that our most vulnerable Americans are not being left behind and I am optimistic — through recent legislation and support from my colleagues — that we can reduce these inequities in our underserved neighborhoods.

And I firmly believe that this Congress can make it happen.

In a joint letter to congressional leaders from the members of the South Carolina delegation, my colleagues and I asked leadership to consider legislative priorities in upcoming stimulus packages to address the disadvantages that face so many without access to broadband.

Too many South Carolinians and American families lack access to the global economy, telehealth and educational tools due to the lack of broadband technology.

It is critical that we continue to find pathways to increase connectivity for all Americans to ensure that they are equipped with the tools necessary to thrive.

And although it has been a problem for too long, I believe that we can bridge the divides in our states and across our country to empower all Americans, ultimately giving hope and opportunity in these times.

Sen. Tim Scott has represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2013.