Gov. Mark Sanford said Wednesday he wants $2 million in next year’s state budget to help extend high-speed Internet access to the state’s rural communities.

His proposed budget for 2007-08 will recommend creating a Broadband Advisory Committee within the Department of Commerce to oversee efforts to provide people in rural communities with Internet access other than dial-up.

The $2 million from the state’s general fund would be used for both direct and matching grants, said Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer.

State law does not allow the regulation of broadband services, so their availability and subscription levels in South Carolina are unclear. According to the Federal Communications Commission, some form of digital subscriber line is available in 73 percent of the places statewide where phone companies provide service.