The office of NC Governor Josh Stein has announced more than $58 million in Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program projects to connect 10,076 households and businesses in 26 counties to high-speed internet. 

“Good partnerships between our counties, the state, and internet providers will connect North Carolinians,” said Governor Stein in a press release. “I look forward to continuing to bring high-speed internet to every corner of the state so that people can communicate with family and friends, grow their business, or access telehealth services or educational opportunities.”

“Bringing high-speed internet to rural North Carolina is a game changer,” said NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Teena Piccione in a press release. “Thanks to the vision of Governor Stein and our General Assembly, we’re making historic investments to close the digital divide, and more programs are on the way to connect additional communities across the state.” 

These projects will be funded by more than $41 million from the federal American Rescue Plan awarded by NCDIT and individual counties, as well as more than $17 million from the selected broadband providers. Projects included within the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal include: 

• Bladen: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) 
  This award will provide high-speed internet access to 250 homes and businesses (35.31% of the county’s remaining 458 eligible locations after previous awards). 
• Harnett County: Windstream North Carolina, LLC 
  This award will provide high-speed internet access to 351 homes and businesses (14.09% of the county’s remaining 2,491 eligible locations after previous awards).
• Hoke County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) 
  This award will provide high-speed internet access to 407 homes and businesses (56.92% of the county’s remaining 715 eligible locations after previous awards).
• Moore County: Windstream North Carolina, LLC 
  This award will provide high-speed internet access to 481 homes and businesses (18.98% of the county’s remaining 2,533 eligible locations after previous awards).
• Robeson County: Spectrum Southeast, LLC and LREMC Technologies, LLC (Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation) 
  These awards will provide high-speed internet access to 550 homes and businesses (19.87% of the county’s 2,767 eligible locations).

The CAB program’s procurement process creates a partnership between counties and NCDIT to identify areas that need access, solicit proposals from prequalified internet service providers, and quickly make awards. Awardees must agree to provide high-speed service that reliably meets or exceeds speeds of 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload.

For more information about the NCDIT Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity, visit ncbroadband.gov.