Wedding & Event Venue Near Rock Hill, SC.

What is the best internet provider in Rock Hill?

There aren't many local options for home internet, so Comporium stands out as the best internet provider in Rock Hill, South Carolina, mostly due to its availability. That said, Rock Hills residents shouldn't feel "stuck" with Comporium. Speeds, pricing and overall value are decent, especially if your address is eligible for the fiber-optic side of the service. There is also the convenience and pleasantness of dealing with a local company.

With little in the way of competition, Comporium offers both the cheapest internet and fastest speeds available in Rock Hill. Service starts at $30 to $40 a month for download speeds up to 100 megabits per second, and those eligible for fiber internet service can now get speeds up to 5,000Mbps.

If you’re eager for alternatives, fixed wireless internet from T-Mobile Home Internet or Verizon 5G Home Internet may be available. Each service is appealing in its own right, as you’ll find T-Mobile to have better availability, while Verizon has lower introductory pricing and faster maximum speeds.

Our methodology

CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Rock Hill across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers' terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.

Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your particular options is to plug your address into a provider's website.

Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider's pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs, while the text is specific to what's available in Rock Hill. The prices referenced within this article's text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month -- a standard industry offering. Other discounts and promotions might also be available for things like signing a term contract or bundling with multiple services.

To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.

Best internet in Rock Hill, South Carolina

3 Internet providers

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Rock Hill

Cheap internet options in Rock Hill

Comporium has the lowest starting rate for internet in Rock Hill at $30 or $40 a month for speeds up to 100Mbps. You may be able to get a little more speed, however, for around the same cost with T-Mobile Home Internet or Verizon 5G Home Internet if you qualify for the mobile bundle discount from either provider.

Including the discount, T-Mobile Home Internet offers speeds of 72 to 245Mbps for $40 a month, while Verizon 5G Home Internet has a range of 50 to 300Mbps for $35 monthly. Though not necessarily cheaper than Comporium, the faster speed potential does make for a better cost per Mbps.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Rock Hill

The best internet deals and the top promotions in Rock Hill depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.

Rock Hill internet providers, such as Comporium or T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including Verizon 5G Home Internet, run the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

How fast is Rock Hill broadband?

Gig download speeds, at or around 1,00Mbps, are available throughout Rock Hill thanks to Comporium. Verizon 5G Home Internet offers speeds up to 1,000Mbps, but that's the highest end of a range that starts at 85Mbps, so actual speeds are likely to be much slower.

In areas where fiber service is available, Comporium offers multi-gigabit internet plans with symmetrical speeds up to 2,000 or 5,000Mbps. Priced at $120 and $135 a month, respectively, these plans are excellent deals (for comparison, AT&T Fiber's 5-gig plan starts at $225 a month), though they may come with way more speed than you need.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines -- and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Rock Hill

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

What's the final word in internet providers in Rock Hill?

Comporium is the most practical option for home internet in Rock Hill, but I wouldn't say residents should feel "stuck" with the provider. Speeds, pricing and service terms are comparable to national cable and fiber providers, and service comes with pleasant advantage of dealing with a locally owned and operated company.

If you're looking for alternatives to Comporium, fixed wireless internet from T-Mobile Home Internet or Verizon 5G Home Internet are your best bets. You'll get a faster speed potential with Verizon, but T-Mobile is much more likely to be available depending on where you live in Rock Hill. Finally, Spectrum may be an option (but don't count on it) and satellite internet is almost always an option, but not one you'll want to choose over Comporium or fixed wireless service.

Internet providers in Rock Hill, South Carolina, FAQs

To say that Kevan Cohn is just a fan of sandwiches would be dishonest.

Cohn is “obsessed with sandwiches”, telling The Herald that he visits his local Jersey Mike’s multiple times a week for a hot turkey sub.

Now, the Fort Mill resident’s love for sandwiches has become his job as he celebrates the opening of his first sandwich shop FRESHPRESS, located in the food court of The Power House in downtown Rock Hill.

The shop sells three different types of sandwiches:

FRESHPRESS also sells chopped salads, pastries and desserts. The menu includes vegetarian and vegan options as well.

Cohn and his partner have been frequent customers at The Power House, and earlier this year they started speculating about the food court’s options.

“I thought to myself, ‘What’s missing from here?’” Cohn said. “What opportunities do we have? What do the people want?’ I had the opportunity to talk through it with my partner, and we realized a panini shop and a chopped salad shop is really what’s missing from here, because there’s not many healthy options to choose from. We wanted to be that solution.”

These first several weeks after opening are going to be crucial for what stays on the FRESHPRESS menu and what doesn’t.

“I think that the first 60 or 90 days is going to be a lot of trial and error,” Cohn said. “If I’m being honest, I’m here for the people, not necessarily for me. So while I think I have a great menu, I really want to see how people interact and enjoy the menu. If there’s things they don’t like on there, or if they’re going to give me a certain feedback, I’m willing to update the menu and change it, so it can be a little more catered to the people in the area.”

Cohn, who also works as a real estate agent, said that he believes in The Power House and what it offers to the community.

Despite the potential of high out-of-town traffic from visitors attending events at the nearby Rock Hill Sports and Events Center, the Fort Lauderdale, Florida native wants to become a mainstay in the Rock Hill area.

“Being here in central Rock Hill, we’re seeing so much growth here,” Cohn said. “So I just wanted to be on the foundation of it because this is a really cool space. I think there’s a lot of opportunity, and there’s lots of people around here. Especially with Winthrop being right here too, I really want to be able to cater to the college students and give them something a little more excited.”

The Powerhouse is located on 378 Technology Center Way in Rock Hill.

Here is the weekly schedule for FRESHPRESS:

Rock Hill developer Warren Norman Company could add another commercial destination to the city — this time on Celanese Road.

The company applied to annex in and rezone almost 27 acres at 2990 Celanese Road with plans for six new buildings. The city planning commission will review plans on Tuesday and make a recommendation on annexation before Rock Hill City Council decides.

A city planning staff report notes plans for a mixed-use medical, office and commercial complex. It also mentions retail space. Combined, the new buildings would total almost 53,000 square feet.

Submitted plans for the vacant, wooded property show two entrances. One is aligned with Ebinport Road. A 12,000-square-foot building is southwest of that entrance, fronting Celanese. An almost 6,000-square-foot building sits northeast of the entrance. On the opposite side of the larger building there’s an almost 8,000-square-foot building tucked up against a second entrance.

The other three buildings aren’t along Celanese. They’re on the property’s interior, separated by large parking areas from the others. A 12,000- and 11,000-square foot building are to the southwest. A 4,900-square-foot building is on the opposite side, nearer the entrance across from Ebinport Road.

The other entrance would align with one across Celanese for a Walmart site. The city approved a more than 11-acre development in 2014 that would have a Walmart grocery store, retail shops, a gas station and commercial outparcels. The site is only partially developed now with a building pad spot, parking areas, a storm water pond and landscaping.

Last fall, the city annexed and rezoned about 8 acres at India Hook and Celanese roads with related plans for new commercial development in that area.

Read Next

Business

September 27, 2023 12:14 PM

Warren Norman and affiliated companies have a long history of development in the region, and in Rock Hill in particular. Projects range from buying the Galleria Mall in 2019 to the massive, 2,000-plus-home Roselyn subdivision in Lancaster County to new retail centers like The Perch near Winthrop University.

In the past 12 months alone, Warren Norman announced the additions of:

? Stars and Strikes bowling and entertainment center at the Galleria Mall

? Bella Ballerina off Celanese Road

? The Butcher, Another Broken Egg Cafe, Lifestance Health and Tune Up The Manly Salon at The Perch

? Chipotle Mexican Grill, Ledo Pizza, Five Guys and Club Pilates at Allston

In a separate decision Tuesday, the planning commission will review plans for new duplex rentals.

A Fort Mill-based owner of almost 3 acres at 932 Cedar St. applied to build six duplexes (12 units) there. The property backs up to the rail line that runs along Dave Lyle Boulevard. It’s undeveloped now.

City staff recommends the zoning change that brings the plan to the commission on Tuesday. Again, a recommendation from the commission will come ahead of a full city council decision.

Editor’s note: This story was published March 18 and updated on March 28 to reflect follow-up inspection scores and a correction. An earlier version of this story misstated The Little Cafe’s response before the story was initially posted. The Herald was unable to reach The Little Cafe before this story posted on March 18.

Two Rock Hill buffet restaurants scored C grades last week during health inspections, earning the two lowest scores this year in a three-county area.

Ginza Buffet of Rock Hill had three inspections last week after the first one scored a 67%. Restaurants are scored on a 100-point scale. Anything above 87 points is an A, with a 78-87 score getting a B grade.

Any lower number is a grade C and indicates food safety practices need “significant improvement,” according to the state health department.

By the third inspection Ginza was able to get an A, scoring a perfect 100%. The restaurant did not respond to The Herald’s initial request for comment about the score.

The Little Cafe also got a C inspection, scoring 71%. A follow-up inspection on March 21 showed a score for the restaurant of 100% for an A grade, too.

The Herald was unable to reach The Little Cafe for comment before this story initially posted.

A routine inspection March 11 found a number of issues at Ginza, an Asian food buffet at 2275 Dave Lyle Blvd.

T-shirt bags were being used to store food and hand washing sinks were being used for dump sinks (disposal of liquid waste), according to the inspection report. The drink station ice machine had “pink and black organic accumulation.”

Fly paper was being used over a food prep area and gnats were found in a storage area near the dish room. A sink pipe was leaking and there were grease and debris buildup in several areas listed on the report.

An inspector found problems with the thawing of pork chops, oysters, crab meat and shrimp. Ground pork was stored over ready-to-eat foods in the walk-in cooler, and raw meat was stored over vegetables in a hibachi reach-in cooler, the report stated. A variety of foods weren’t kept hot or cold enough, according to health department guidelines. Bug spray was found under the drink station hand sink.

A low score often leads to a follow-up inspection within 10 days. The Ginza score prompted a follow-up within 24 hours.

The March 12 inspection also had a C grade, but with a 91% pass rate. The health department can give letter grades that don’t match numerical ones when there’s a history of problems or issues already noted on inspections haven’t been addressed.

The follow-up inspection found raw fish being stored over ready-to-eat foods in the walk-in cooler and pans at the cook line that weren’t clean to the sight or touch.

A second follow-up March 15 found no concerns that needed to be addressed from above and resulted in the A score and 100% rate. The report noted no further inspection would be needed for at least 60 days.

Also on March 15, a routine inspection at The Little Cafe scored a 71%. A follow-up is required within 10 days.

Servers failed to wash hands before preparing ready-to-eat food and the back door was left open during inspection, according to the report. Raw chicken was stored over raw beef in a walk-in cooler, the sink sanitizer wasn’t strong enough, dented cans were found in the dry storage area and several foods weren’t held at temperatures hot or cold enough, per health department guidelines.

Air fresheners and sprays were stored on a shelf above the food prep area with spices and seasonings, according to the inspection.

The two buffets received the lowest numerical scores of a relative handful of C grades so far this year. Of 539 restaurant or food site inspections this year in York County, only seven had a C grade. Two sites, Ginza and the 7-Eleven on Fort Mill Parkway, account for two of those scores, each.

Only one of 144 inspections this year garnered a C grade in Lancaster County. None of the 58 Chester County inspections this year fell into that range.

This story was originally published March 18, 2024, 12:09 PM.

803-329-4076

John Marks graduated from Furman University in 2004 and joined the Herald in 2005. He covers community growth, municipalities, transportation and education mainly in York County and Lancaster County. The Fort Mill native earned dozens of South Carolina Press Association awards and multiple McClatchy President’s Awards for news coverage in Fort Mill and Lake Wylie.

Forty-six years is a long time to do anything.

In some ways, I guess I’d qualify as a unicorn. I walked off the UNC (Tar Heel born, Tar Heel bred) campus in 1977. I walked into a newsroom and never left.

I’ve done just about every job you can do in a newsroom.

I’ve been through the great times and tumult. But I always said I would know when it’s time to walk away.

Now’s my time. I’m retiring from my position as executive editor of The Herald.

I’ve had enough stress, enough long hours, enough exacting demands. But I’ve also had great fun, laughter, success and made a host of friends. And I’ve lived a huge portion of a really good life in newsrooms.

I’m leaving with my health intact. Evidence of that is that I have a pretty good tennis game.

As for my mental and emotional acuity? Well, I’ll refer to a line from one of my favorite movies, “Roadhouse”: “Opinions do vary.”

I came to Rock Hill eight years ago on what I thought was a temporary assignment. Now, I consider this place one of my many homes. I grew up in Rockingham, N.C., and I’ve lived in Columbus, Ga., Greenville, S.C., and Charlotte. Each place owns a section in my heart.

It’s not the geography, it’s the people. I will not start citing names here. There are too many. And I’m not a person given to long-winded farewells. I know who you are and I won’t forget you. That’s good enough for me.

One thing I hope I accomplished is that you all were left with the feeling that I cared. I cared about the people. I cared about the work. I cared about the words we published.

I’m a person who tries to live out my Christian faith. My sometimes salty language may have thrown you off a bit. But I believe in the practice of the Golden Rule. I believe words give surface impressions, but actions give real-life impact.

And I hope my impact was to make each of you know how much I cared.

That’s my farewell message.

Now, one final story:

As a college freshman, I had a legendary professor named Jim Shuemaker. He asked one day “how do you end a good story?” Now you must know Shuemaker was a tall man with an intimidating presence. He listened to us all with an impatient glare in his eyes.

When we all had our say, he was silent for a moment.

Then he said (and I’ll clean this sentence up for print purposes): “You end a good story with a .... period.”

His point was this: When you’ve done all that is necessary to tell a good story. Don’t feel the need to do more. Just stop.

Well, I’m done telling my story. And this is my cue.

Period.

This story was originally published October 27, 2023, 12:43 PM.