Governor Josh Stein recently announced the allocation of over $31 million for Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program projects. This funding will facilitate high-speed internet connectivity for 10,810 households and businesses across 14 counties in North Carolina.
Governor Stein emphasized the importance of universal internet access, stating, “No matter where you live in the state, you should have access to high-speed internet. Broadband is critical to providing more economic opportunity to every corner of the state, and I am proud to create a stronger and more connected North Carolina for every person and small business owner.”
Teena Piccione, NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer, also highlighted the project’s significance: “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. We will continue to announce CAB project awards every two weeks throughout April in order to help connect more homes and businesses.”
The projects are funded by more than $22.1 million from the federal American Rescue Plan, administered by NCDIT, alongside nearly $9.6 million contributed by selected broadband providers. The funding and participating providers are as follows:
– Avery: SkyBest Communications, Inc. will cover 805 locations.
– Beaufort: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) will reach 414 locations.
– Buncombe: Frontier Communications of the Carolinas, LLC will service 132 locations.
– Cumberland: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) will cover 496 locations.
– Dare: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) will service 20 locations.
– Hyde: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) will cover 1,282 locations.
– Jones: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) will connect 79 locations.
– Nash: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) will provide for 5,693 locations.
– Pamlico: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) will serve 100 locations.
– Pasquotank: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) will cover 87 locations.
– Swain: Zito West Holding, LLC (Zito Media) will reach 509 locations.
– Transylvania: Citizens Telephone Company (Comporium Communications) will service 473 locations.
– Wake: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) will serve 144 locations.
– Yancey: French Broad Electric Membership Corporation will reach 576 locations.
The CAB program brings together counties and the NCDIT to target areas needing internet access, inviting proposals from prequalified internet service providers. Providers must deliver high-speed internet with a minimum of 100 Mbps for both downloads and uploads.
As part of Governor Stein’s efforts to bridge the digital divide, these CAB awards will appear on NCDIT’s progress dashboards, funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act. These initiatives supplement the $516 million in Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants and other CAB projects aimed at connecting nearly 190,000 North Carolina households and businesses.
Further information about the NCDIT Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity can be found at ncbroadband.gov.
