(AP) - A bill to explore building a statewide wireless broadband network received key approval in the House on Tuesday.

The network would use existing infrastructure from South Carolina Educational Television with private companies helping put together the necessary technology.

The bill creates a commission to study what it would take to construct the network.

Private companies renting bandwidth from ETV would still charge for high-speed access, but low speed broadband access would be free for people who can't afford it.