Leveling the Playing Field
With Broadband, Opportunities Abound
General Manager
When we talk about broadband, we often start with the hardware, including the cables, the trucks on the road, and the servers humming away in a secure room. But while those pieces are important chapters, they are not the whole story.
The bigger picture appears when you open your laptop, pick up your phone, or power up a tablet. It comes to life when you connect with someone, learn something new, or share a piece of your day.
A recent report from the Pew Research Center helps show just how connected our country has become. Today, about 96% of U.S. adults use the internet. That number may not surprise you. Most of us go online every day. Still, for rural communities like ours, that figure means something important. It shows we are closing the digital divide. It means that whether you live on a back road, down a gravel driveway, or in the center of town, you can take part in the same online world as someone in a major city.
Pew’s 2025 research also shows that 84% of adults use YouTube. 71% use Facebook, and about half use Instagram. Those aren’t just social media sites. They are modern gathering places where people learn, share, and build connections.
When more than 8 in 10 adults use YouTube, it becomes more than a video app. It turns into a how-to guide, a classroom, and even a stage. You can learn to fix a broken appliance, plant a better garden, or understand a moment in history. You can study photography, practice guitar, or follow a cooking lesson step by step. For many, it’s a free library of skills and ideas.
Facebook and Instagram also bring people together in meaningful ways. They help neighbors spread the word about local events and school programs. They give small businesses a chance to reach customers beyond their storefronts. They allow artists, gardeners, and craftspeople to show their work to a wide audience. A favorite travel photo can spark someone else’s adventure. A short video explaining a repair might help a stranger miles away.
What starts as a simple post can grow into a conversation. A conversation can grow into a community. Sometimes, it even grows into a business opportunity. Behind every 1 of those moments is a reliable broadband connection working quietly in the background.
At South Central Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, our job is to make sure that your connection is steady and ready when you need it. We handle the maintenance, the upgrades, and the long-term planning, so your service is dependable.
Maybe you use that connection to learn a new skill. Maybe you use it to promote a local event, sell handmade goods, or share family milestones with loved ones far from home.
Creativity always starts with 1 person willing to try. We’re proud that our cooperative helps make that possible. I’d love to hear how you’re using SCRTC broadband to connect, create, and share your corner of the world.