North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has announced a $48 million investment to expand high-speed internet access through the Completing Access to Broadband program. The project will connect 14,514 households and businesses in 22 counties, with a focus on rural areas. According to the North Carolina Department of Information Technology, the expansion addresses the need for reliable internet for work, education, and healthcare.
“Connecting all North Carolinians, especially in our rural areas, opens doors of opportunity,” said Governor Josh Stein. The funding, which includes over $33 million from the federal American Rescue Plan and more than $14 million from broadband providers, will expand internet coverage in the state. Counties benefiting include Halifax, with 93.42% of eligible locations covered, and Craven County, with 65.62% coverage. Wilkes County will have 7.31% coverage after previous awards. Providers involved are Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed), Star Telephone Membership Corp, and Spectrum Southeast, LLC. North Carolina Department of Information Technology Secretary and State CIO Teena Piccione said, “By creating a more connected state, we are investing in the future prosperity and resiliency of our communities,” as reported by the North Carolina Department of Information Technology.
The Completing Access to Broadband program requires funded projects to deliver internet speeds of at least 100 Mbps for both download and upload. It involves collaboration between counties and the North Carolina Department of Information Technology to improve internet access in underserved areas. The program supports Governor Josh Stein’s broader effort to expand broadband across the state. It adds to $596 million in Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology grants and previous Completing Access to Broadband projects, which are expected to connect more than 230,000 households and businesses in North Carolina to high-speed internet.
