Governor Josh Stein announced on Mar. 23 nearly $26 million in awards through the Stop-Gap Solutions program to bring high-speed internet access to 5,161 rural homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions across 66 counties in North Carolina by the end of 2026.
The expansion of broadband is intended to help bridge the digital divide in underserved areas. Access to reliable internet is seen as essential for education, healthcare, business growth, and community development.
“These broadband projects will ensure more families can soon access telehealth, students can complete their homework, businesses can compete in larger markets, and communities can thrive,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I am committed to improving broadband access across the state and making sure no community is left behind.”
The Stop-Gap Solutions program is managed by the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity using federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. The program targets unserved or underserved households with new infrastructure extensions that reach small clusters often missed by larger deployment efforts. Teena Piccione, NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer, said: “High-speed internet access is the foundation for health care delivery, public safety operations, workforce development, and economic growth in our state. This program allows us to move with urgency and precision to connect more North Carolinians.”
Awards were given to several providers including Atlantic Telephone Membership Cooperative/FOCUS Broadband ($1.65 million), Cherokee Cablevision ($533 thousand), Citizens Telephone Company/Comporium Communications ($4 million), Connect Holding II/Brightspeed ($1.68 million), ERC Broadband ($1.26 million), Frontier Communications ($3.52 million), HarvestBeam Inc., LREMC Technologies/RIVR Tech ($3.81 million), North State Communications/Lumos ($3.97 million), Roanoke Connect Holdings/Fybe ($2.41 million), Skyrunner Inc., Star Telephone Membership Corp/Star Communications ($443 thousand), Wilkes Telephone Membership Corporation/RiverStreet Networks ($960 thousand) and Yadkin Valley Telephone Membership Corporation/Zirrus.
NCDIT has already contracted over $670 million for broadband projects expected this year that will connect more than 252,000 homes and businesses statewide while awarding nearly $50 million for computer distribution and digital skills training programs reaching over 66 thousand people through local organizations.
Josh Stein has served as the 76th governor of North Carolina according to the official website of the Office of the Governor according to the official website. The Office serves as chief executive for all state residents according to its official website, executes laws alongside leading policy direction through budget oversight and granting pardons according to its official website, appoints executive officials as commander-in-chief of the National Guard according to its official website.
Together these initiatives reflect a strategy pairing infrastructure investment with resources needed so residents are prepared once service becomes available.
