Appalachia Digital Accelerator
City of Liberty
The City of Liberty, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Pickens County, South Carolina, is taking bold steps to enhance connectivity for its 3,300 residents. Through the Appalachia Digital Accelerator, the City has developed a plan to advance its goal of extending fiber internet access to every home and business. By delivering ubiquitous, high-quality, and affordable internet, Liberty aims to foster economic growth, expand educational opportunities, and improve access to essential services.
The City of Liberty’s connectivity plan outlines a clear path to achieving universal fiber internet access through a proposed partnership with a reputable regional ISP already active in the area. This provider has secured public funding to connect Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) in and around the city, creating a strong foundation to expand the network to additional homes and businesses. The plan also prioritizes digital equity, recommending initiatives such as digital literacy programs, affordability strategies, and community-based digital navigator services to ensure all residents can fully benefit from enhanced connectivity.
Fiber internet plays a vital role in a community by offering much faster speeds and greater bandwidth. This enhanced connectivity improves access to essential online services such as education, healthcare, remote work, and entertainment. As a result, it can drive economic growth, draw in new businesses, elevate residents’ quality of life, and help close the digital divide.
About the City of Liberty
Liberty’s history and traditions were born of the textile mill, and now the city is forging a new future as a residential and business opportunity hub within the region.
A project in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), which contributed $6.3 million (80% of the total project cost).
