Have you or your children had trouble using the internet?

Lexington County students, particularly in rural areas, have paid a price in the pandemic due to faulty or total lack of internet access.

A Department of Education study compared current test scores with those in years past and found pronounced learning loss among students, especially in math.

But help is on the way. US Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott have introduced the State Fix Act to expand broadband internet access to underserved rural areas.

“There are places in South Carolina you might as well be on the moon when it comes to getting high speed internet service,” Graham said.

Scott said, “Increased broadband access means more opportunity for underserved and rural communities, positively affecting everything from education and healthcare to business and workforce development.”

Broadband advocate Lou Kennedy, Nephron Pharmaceutical’s CEO said, “Expanding access to reliable internet is one of the most important issues facing the state.”

Their bill would: • Provide $20 billion for broadband infrastructure using fiber-optic cables, wireless and 5G technology.

• Use a reverse auction method to provide top-quality broadband service at the lowest price for taxpayers.

• Send federal money to states based on their unserved (no internet access at all) and a percentage of their underserved (low-quality service).

These families live in areas of greatest need such as rural communities and Opportunity Zones.