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Senator Jim Ritchie Introduces A Statewide Wireless Broadband Initiative and "iAm," a Statewide Student Laptop Program

SENATOR JIM RITCHIE INTRODUCES A STATEWIDE WIRELESS BROADBAND INITIATIVE AND “iAm,” A STATEWIDE STUDENT LAPTOP PROGRAM

Ritchie Seeks to Create the Nation’s First Statewide Wireless Network While Establishing a Laptop Program for SC Public Schools

COLUMBIA, SC - Today, Senator James H. “Jim” Ritchie, Jr. (R-13), Majority Whip, introduced a joint resolution in the South Carolina Senate to create the nation’s first statewide universal wireless network. S. 465 establishes the South Carolina Wireless Technology and Communications Commission to develop a public-private partnership with the goal of creating the nation’s first “hot” state. This potentially transformative initiative would make wireless Internet access available in every South Carolina community and could be a reality within 18 months once the bill is passed.

“We have a unique opportunity to be the nation’s leader in universal wireless broadband access. By creating a public-private partnership to build on the infrastructure already in place, we can make high-speed Internet available to every South Carolinian by the end of 2008. This will truly put South Carolina at the forefront of economic development, educational opportunities and improved health care delivery but, more importantly, it will give our rural communities a real competitive advantage in the knowledge based economy of tomorrow.” Ritchie said.

Ritchie continued, “This public-private partnership can take us from merely talking about having a knowledge-based economy to actually having the leading edge infrastructure necessary to transform South Carolina into a leader in the information age.”

Upon introduction, the joint resolution garnered 13 bi-partisan co-sponsors in the Senate. It has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

To complement this initiative, Ritchie and Senator Gerald Malloy (D- 29) introduced S.464. This bill modernizes the state Universal Service Fund (USF) by expanding the USF to include wireless providers and wireless services. This will assure that all South Carolinians have access to essential basic telecommunications services. It also provides a broadband incentive program to assist small telecommunications companies who want to deploy modern broadband services. However, the heart of the bill is the iAm laptop program for all eighth graders in South Carolina.

The iAm program will provide a laptop for every eighth grade public school student beginning in August 2007. The iAm program is designed to engage students to take ownership and responsibility for their future and the future of South Carolina. All students in the iAm program will be given a laptop at the beginning of their eighth grade school year. They will be personally responsible for this laptop until they graduate from high school. This program will modernize our education system by giving teachers the tools to fully engage their students. In addition, the iAm program will encourage personal responsibility in our students.

Ritchie said, “By engaging our students in this new program, we will give them the tools necessary to be responsible for their future. No longer will our education system be beholden to traditional school hours or teaching methods. Instead, this program will remind our students to say ‘I am in charge of my future. I am the future of South Carolina.’ Having this program complement the implementation of a statewide wireless broadband initiative will allow our students to learn the skills necessary to be competitive in our changing economy.”

Senator Malloy said, “This initiative goes a long way in closing the educational opportunities gap for students in the I-95 corridor. The bill highlights the importance of providing every South Carolina child the chance to determine their own future by giving them the skills to be competitive in our changing economy.”

S. 464 earned 14 bi-partisan co-sponsors in the Senate upon introduction. It also has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The joint resolution will be introduced and co-sponsored in the House of Representatives by Speaker Bobby Harrell (R – 114) and Representative Dwight Loftis (R – 19).

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