North Carolina's digital landscape is in for a significant expansion, as Governor Josh Stein has announced the allotment of over $31 million towards connecting more households and businesses to high-speed internet. This initiative, part of the Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program, aims to bridge the digital divide across 14 counties. The funds will facilitate internet access for 10,810 locations, a crucial step in ensuring that North Carolinians, regardless of their geographical foothold, can engage with the digital economy.
"No matter where you live in the state, you should have access to high-speed internet," Governor Josh Stein said. Broadband connectivity serves as a cornerstone for opportunities; from e-commerce to online education, telehealth, and beyond, the ripple effect of digital inclusion is expected to be substantial. Funded by more than $22.1 million from the federal American Rescue Plan and nearly $9.6 million from selected broadband providers, the program is set in motion to fortify the state's internet infrastructure.
NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Teena Piccione underscored the broader impact of the CAB projects, suggesting that they are more than just infrastructure upgrades – they represent a concerted effort to empower communities through technology. "Thanks to these projects, North Carolinians across the state will be getting high-speed internet access so they can work, access online learning opportunities, participate in telehealth, and build a stronger state economy," Piccione said, highlighting the multifaceted benefits of the program, as per the Office of the Governor.
Hailed as a means to promote egalitarian digital accessibility, the CAB program partners with counties and seeks out proposals from prequalified internet service providers to pinpoint and cater to the under-served locales. Recipients of the awards are mandated to provide speedy service that holds up to or surpasses internet speeds of 100 Mbps for both downloads and uploads. This is part of a larger vision by the Stein administration to equip nearly 190,000 additional North Carolina households and businesses with high-speed internet, using funds from both the CAB program and the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants.
Residents of the counties earmarked for enhancement can anticipate a near future where digital possibilities are not throttled by their zip codes. With continuous CAB project awards set to be unveiled every two weeks throughout April, North Carolina is on a steadfast track towards obliterating the digital divide. The exhaustive details and progress of these broadband initiatives, along with all federally funded American Rescue Plan Act programs, are slated to be incorporated within the NCDIT's dashboards in April, offering transparency and insight into the state's ambitious digital agenda.
