Governor Josh Stein has announced the distribution of over $63 million in Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program projects. This funding aims to connect 18,889 households and businesses across 30 counties in North Carolina to high-speed internet.
“North Carolinians need access to high-speed internet to connect them with friends and family, business opportunities, telehealth, and more,” said Governor Stein. “Broadband is key 21st Century infrastructure, and these partnerships between counties across the state and internet providers will help connect more North Carolinians.”
Teena Piccione, NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer, emphasized the importance of connectivity. “Access to high-speed internet is not just about connectivity; it’s about empowering individuals and communities to thrive in the digital age,” Piccione stated. “We will continue collaborating with counties and internet service providers to fund projects to expand high-speed internet access to all North Carolinians.”
These initiatives will be overseen by NCDIT and funded through over $44 million from the federal American Rescue Plan, supplemented by nearly $19 million from selected broadband providers. Some of the providers include Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed), Spectrum Southeast, LLC, and Roanoke Connect Holdings, LLC (Fybe), among others.
The targeted counties and providers are set to cover various percentages of eligible locations in each region. For instance, Bertie County’s arrangement with Roanoke Connect Holdings, LLC will cover 91.39% of its eligible locations, while Brunswick County will achieve 57.31% coverage through Atlantic Telephone Membership Cooperative.
The CAB program establishes partnerships between counties and NCDIT, pinpointing areas requiring connectivity, inviting proposals from internet service providers, and promptly making awards. All awardees are required to deliver service speeds of at least 100 Mbps for both downloads and uploads.
Governor Stein is dedicated to bridging the digital divide, building on previous efforts such as the $533 million in GREAT grants and earlier CAB projects. These efforts will collectively connect over 211,000 North Carolina households and businesses to high-speed internet.
For more details about the NCDIT Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity, resources are available at ncbroadband.gov.
