Spectrum Expands its State-of-the-Art Broadband Network in Florence County, S.C.

State Sen. Mike Reichenbach, State Rep. Roger Kirby, Florence County Council Chairman Willard Dorriety Jr., Florence County Member Jason Springs, and Other Community Leaders Join Spectrum for Launch Event

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Spectrum and the Florence County Council today announced a nearly $14 million investment on a fiber-optic network expansion project that will bring gigabit broadband and other Spectrum services to more than 3,300 homes and small businesses in Florence County.

The Florence County Council is providing $4.5 million from American Rescue Plan funding while Spectrum is investing $9.3 million for the network expansion, which is expected to reach more than 3,300 homes and small businesses in the county over the next two years.

Alongside this public-private partnership with Florence County, Spectrum will also align its existing Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) buildout to help speed deployment to an additional 2,800 homes and small businesses in the county, part of the company’s approximately $5 billion investment in unserved rural communities, which includes $1.2 billion won in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) RDOF auction. The company’s RDOF expansion will provide broadband access to approximately 1 million customer locations as estimated by the FCC across 24 states in the coming years.

“Through RDOF, Spectrum is making a multiyear investment to extend gigabit broadband networks to unserved communities across America,” said Jonathan Holt, Vice President of Construction and Spectrum. “Our commitment is making it possible to deliver the high-value broadband, mobile, TV and voice services now available in Florence County. We are providing superior connectivity to local residents and small businesses at highly competitive prices, backed by an organization committed to craftsmanship and service.”

Following the formal announcement, the Florence County Council, Florence County Parks & Recreation and Spectrum will host a community festival including fiber splicing demonstrations, food trucks and various outdoor activities. The festival is open to the public and will take place May 19, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Lake City Park, 273 North Church St., Lake City.

“Spectrum is a proven leader in expanding broadband to underserved communities, especially in rural areas,” said state Rep. Roger Kirby. “I’m thrilled to see the Florence County Council show the initiative to combine county federal dollars with other funding awarded to Charter from other federal programs, like RDOF, to finish unserved areas of Florence County. It is important the County recognized the opportunity to put all of these dollars to good use and I was honored to assist in pulling the varied interests together to move this generational opportunity forward for our area.”

The RDOF portion of the Florence County buildout will be one of the first projects in which Spectrum will deploy its new in-house underground construction capability. The multimillion-dollar investment will give Spectrum the ability to complete underground trenching and drilling for its fiber-optic network more efficiently, and ultimately deploy broadband to unserved areas more quickly. 

“Connecting all homes and businesses to high-speed internet is a game changer for our area,” said Florence County Council Chairman Willard Dorriety Jr. “Spectrum’s broadband expansion is doing just that for families in Florence County that now have the broadband access they need to thrive.”

Florence County Council member Jason Springs added, “Expanding broadband into rural communities is one of the most important things we can do to grow our economy. I applaud Spectrum for their commitment to bridge the digital divide so everyone has access to the information and tools they need to succeed in today’s environment.”

Spectrum Services Launched to First 90 Homes and Small Businesses

As the first step in its local RDOF buildout, Spectrum has launched services to more than 90 homes and small businesses, mainly in the Timmonsville area, and will continue expansion through the end of the year.

Spectrum Internet Gig, with download speeds of 1 Gbps, is now available to the recently connected homes and will be available throughout the buildout area. Spectrum Internet offers starting speeds of 200 Mbps, with Spectrum Internet Ultra providing download speeds of 400 Mbps. For small and medium-sized businesses, Spectrum Business Internet offers download speeds of 200 Mbps, 600 Mbps and 1 Gbps. Local residents and business owners should visit spectrumruralexpansion.com to learn more about when their home or business may be able to receive Spectrum services.

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the Best Internet Service Provider for Rural Areas in its 2021-22 ratings, Spectrum Internet also exceeded advertised download and upload speeds for all tiers measured — even during peak weeknight usage between 7 and 11 p.m. — according to the FCC’s most recent “Measuring Broadband America Fixed Broadband Report” issued in December 2021. And all Spectrum Internet plans have no data caps, modem fees or contracts.

Spectrum Mobile^™ is available exclusively to Spectrum Internet customers. Combining the fastest overall speeds^* with the best devices and a choice of Unlimited or By the Gig data plans, Spectrum Mobile provides customers the highest-quality experience at great value, including access to nationwide 5G. Customers can bring their own phone or choose from among the latest mobile devices and accessories.

Spectrum TV^® brings extensive programming lineups to the area, with more than 200 HD channels and access to 85,000 On Demand movies and shows. Using the award-winning Spectrum TV App, viewers can stream content across a growing number of platforms, including iOS and Android phones and tablets, Xbox, Kindle Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, Apple TV 4K, Google Chromecast, Roku and PCs. Spectrum TV customers also have exclusive access to Spectrum Originals, a premier destination for premium original series, available on-demand and ad-free.

Home phone service through Spectrum Voice^® provides unlimited calling in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico; up to 28 popular calling features, including Call Guard, which helps block unwanted robocalls; and no added phone taxes or fees. 

^* Fastest Overall Speeds claim based on Global Wireless Solutions’ combined cellular and WiFi speed test results in Spectrum service area where WiFi is available. Cellular speeds vary by location.

About Spectrum

Spectrum is a suite of advanced communications services offered by Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR), a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator serving more than
32 million customers in 41 states. Over an advanced communications network, the company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet^®, TV, Mobile and Voice.

For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum Business^® delivers the same suite of broadband products and services coupled with special features and applications to enhance productivity, while for larger businesses and government entities, Spectrum Enterprise provides highly customized, fiber-based solutions. Spectrum Reach^® delivers tailored advertising and production for the modern media landscape. The company also distributes award-winning news coverage, sports and high-quality original programming to its customers through Spectrum Networks and Spectrum Originals. More information about Charter can be found at corporate.charter.com.

Media Contact

Patrick Paterno

Patrick.paterno@charter.com

@CharterNewsroom