Spectrum expands broadband reach in Darlington

Spectrum has successfully completed its ambitious rural broadband expansion project in Darlington County, South Carolina, bringing high-speed internet access to previously underserved areas. The News & Press recently spoke with Dennis Nahill, the newly appointed Area Vice President of Field Operations for Spectrum in this area, about this significant milestone. Mr. Nahill (pictured here) oversees Darlington, Hartsville, Dillon, Sumter and from Columbia to the coast in his position as AVP.

The expansion project, which finished construction in September 2024 and is now completing final details, represents a major achievement under the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) initiative. The comprehensive buildout has connected over 4,000 homes and small businesses to Spectrum’s full suite of services, dramatically expanding internet access in rural parts of the county.

“We installed an entirely new system with more than 517 miles of brand new underground fiber-optic cable and aerial network lines,” Nahill explained. The project required extensive infrastructure development to reach previously unconnected areas, demonstrating Spectrum’s commitment to bridging the digital divide in rural communities.

This expansion in Darlington County, is part of Spectrum’s multi-year Rural Construction Initiative – and specifically in South Carolina where they are in the process of expanding gigabit high-speed broadband to 39 of South Carolina’s 46 counties delivering to more than 80,000 unserved South Carolina homes and small businesses. The initiative spans 24 states and aims to connect over 1.7 million new locations nationwide.

The overall program is expected to reach completion by 2027, with some areas potentially extending into early 2028.

Spectrum’s broadband expansion in Darlington County carried a total cost of approximately $4.8 million, funded through a partnership between local government and the telecommunications provider. Darlington County contributed approximately $1.5 million through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, with potential for an additional $2.7 million to connect other identified homes, while Spectrum Southeast is providing the remaining estimated $3.3 million to complete the project.

Nahill emphasized several key advantages of Spectrum’s service offering. “ There are no modem fees, data caps or contracts associated with the new internet plans,” he stated. He also assured customers that “data and privacy will absolutely be protected,” highlighting Spectrum’s Security Shield feature available with their advanced WiFi service.

The newly connected areas can access Spectrum Internet with starting speeds of 500 Mbps, with options up to 1 Gbps available. Beyond internet connectivity, residents now have access to Spectrum Mobile’s nationwide 5G network, television service featuring HD channels and on-demand content, and Voice service with unlimited calling to the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.

Spectrum’s commitment extends beyond infrastructure to community education and digital literacy. This past May, the company hosted senior citizen classes in Florence and Lake City, attracting over 100 participants who learned about using apps, accessing websites, managing email, and protecting their data and identities. Additionally, Spectrum offers Digital Education grants supporting nonprofits focused on digital skills training, professional advancement, and educational technology resources.

Looking ahead, Nahill indicated that Spectrum plans to continue expanding its service through private investment in 2025, while also working to increase upload speeds and implement multiple gigabit download speeds across its entire service area.

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.