In a significant move towards bridging the digital divide, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has announced the allocation of more than $58 million to foster the expansion of high-speed internet across 26 counties, aiming to benefit 10,076 households and businesses, as reported on the Office of the Governor official website. The Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program projects, funded by over $41 million from the federal American Rescue Plan and supplemented by more than $17 million from participating broadband providers, envisions ensuring communities can thrive in an increasingly connected world.
During the announcement, the Office of the Governor emphasized the importance of partnerships, stating, "Good partnerships between our counties, the state, and internet providers will connect North Carolinians," the Governor's collaborative vision focuses on furthering communication, business growth, and broadened access to telehealth and educational opportunities. With a strategic allocation of funds by NCDIT and individual contributions from counties, internet providers like Spectrum Southeast, LLC, Windstream North Carolina, LLC, and Connect Holding II, LLC (operating as Brightspeed) are a few among those enlisted to undertake this expansive endeavor.
The transformative potential of high-speed connectivity was highlighted by NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Teena Piccione, who described the initiative as a "game changer" for rural parts of the state; her recognition of this historic investment encapsulates the state's ambition to close the gap that has long hindered certain regions from accessing vital digital resources. Counties including Bladen, Cabarrus, and Columbus are set to witness a significant influx of connectivity infrastructure, with the express purpose of fast-tracking their integration into the digital mainstream, as per Office of the Governor.
This initiative compounds the nearly $630 million already dedicated to the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants, and previous CAB projects, all of which construct a broad mosaic of efforts to connect nearly 245,000 North Carolina households and businesses to high-speed internet as Stein maintains his commitment to digital inclusivity.
