MEBANE, N.C. — Nearly 85,000 households and more than 2,400 businesses in North Carolina will be getting access to high-speed internet.
Governor Roy Cooper made the announcement on Wednesday.
Nearly 70 counties in our state, including Guilford, Forsyth, and Alamance will get new access to high-speed internet.
The investment announced Wednesday will pay for internet service providers to be able to offer internet to more customers.
Leaders say this will benefit not just searching online, but remote learning, telemedicine, and remote work.
Governor Cooper said the state will be using funding from the American Rescue Plan and grants.
$206 million will pay for high-speed internet infrastructure in underserved areas, including rural and regional areas where there is a digital divide.
"I'm very excited about it and look forward to more successes to come so that all North Carolina can be healthier, better educated, and have more money in their pockets, and this high-speed internet access is gonna do that," Cooper said.
The state is also pushing the Affordable Connectivity Program.
With that, the federal government provides $30 a month for qualifying families to connect to the internet.
By accepting this money, internet providers in our state would have to offer this lower-cost plan.
"The Department of Information Technology is executing Governor Cooper's plan to close the digital divide by working to expand access to affordable high-speed internet in every corner of the state, ensuring that it is equitably adopted, and making sure the residents are able to use it for everyday necessities," Nate Denny, NCDIT Deputy Secretary for Broadband and Digital Equity, said.
The governor said high-speed internet access will roll out in phases once the federal money arrives.
Some examples of the internet providers receiving the grant are:
- Alamance County: NC Communications Advanced Serv (Lumos)
- Forsyth County: Connect Holding II LLC (Connect Holding)
- Guilford County: Bellsouth Telecommunications, LLC (AT&T North Carolina)
- Randolph County: NC Communications Advanced Serv (Lumos)
For more information on the Affordable Connectivity Program or some of the major federal investments the states are taking advantage of to expand access, head to getinternet.gov.