As our society becomes increasingly dependent on the internet for shopping, communication, entertainment, education and even health care, the “digital divide” between urban/suburban areas with good internet connectivity and rural areas with limited connectivity has become a major stumbling block to the continued development and economic progress of these communities.
In Anson County, the areas in and around our larger towns have reasonably good broadband service available, but outside of these areas – sometimes just a mile or two down the road – service can be expensive, unreliable or even completely unavailable.
Earlier this year, the N.C. legislature loosened regulatory impediments to rural energy cooperatives providing broadband service to unserved and underserved parts of the state. Our local co-op, PeeDee Electric, has expressed an interest in providing such service and is partnering with Anson County, AnsonEDP and RiverStreet to study how such a plan might be implemented.
The broadband study, which is being conducted by RiverStreet, is funded by AnsonEDP with the understanding that internet connectivity is a major component of our economic development efforts. The study will map the entirety of the county and will provide recommendations of how coverage can be cost-effectively achieved for the vast majority of residents.
Unlike previous feasibility studies, the RiverStreet document will be an actual implementation plan upon which our partners at Anson County and PeeDee Electric can take action, and is required if the county is to apply for millions of dollars of available federal and state grants for rural broadband expansion.
Realistically, by the time the study is completed, grants are applied for and awarded and the necessary infrastructure is put in place, it will likely be 2021 or 2022 before comprehensive rural broadband service could potentially launch.
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