South Carolina Business Review

Speed tests showing rural internet outpacing urban in S.C.

By Mike Switzer

Published February 26, 2025 at 6:30 AM EST

Ways To Subscribe

Jim Stritzinger, director of the South Carolina Broadband Office in Columbia, S.C.

Our next guest’s office has been very busy over the past few years working to increase our state’s rural communities’ access to broadband Internet. And recently-released data is showing they are succeeding. Mike Switzer interviews Jim Stritzinger, director of the South Carolina Broadband Office in Columbia.

Tags

Mike Switzer

After almost 20 years, Mike Switzer retired from Wells Fargo Securities in 2001 as Senior Vice President/Investment Officer and Certified Portfolio Manager. In 1999, he and his wife, Maggie, purchased and operated for eight years the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Drive in Columbia. They grew the store from a bottom-tier operation in the Baskin Robbins franchise system to one in the top 5% nationwide within three years, tripling sales along the way. While operating the ice cream store, Mike and Maggie received patents for a portable ice cream sink and fold-down sneezeguard they invented and in 2002 started Magnolia Carts, an ice cream cart manufacturing company, which they sold in 2013.

See stories by Mike Switzer