North Raleigh Today

Today, Governor Josh Stein announced the allocation of over $41 million through the Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program. This initiative is set to connect 11,816 households and businesses across 17 counties to high-speed internet.

Governor Stein stated, “Connecting North Carolinians online helps strengthen our state. Broadband plays a crucial role in our development, and I look forward to seeing how these funds expand economic opportunities for people in every corner of North Carolina.”

Teena Piccione, the NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer, added, “Internet access is a necessity in today’s world. These grants will fund projects to provide that crucial access to residents in communities across the state. We will continue to partner with counties and internet service providers to make more awards this month as we work to expand high-speed internet to every North Carolinian.”

The projects will be financed by more than $29 million from the federal American Rescue Plan awarded by NCDIT, along with approximately $12.5 million from selected broadband providers. Specific county projects are as follows:

- Anson County: Windstream North Carolina, LLC will connect 945 homes and businesses (35% of eligible locations).

- Caldwell County: Connect Holding II, LLC will connect 203 homes and businesses (12.91% of eligible locations).

- Carteret County: Connect Holding II, LLC will connect 164 homes and businesses (46.2% of eligible locations).

- Caswell County: Connect Holding II, LLC will connect 565 homes and businesses (65.16% of eligible locations).

- Davidson County: Windstream will connect 436 homes and businesses (38.6% of eligible locations).

- Edgecombe County: Connect Holding II, LLC will connect 1,681 homes and businesses (85.55% of eligible locations).

- Greene County: Connect Holding II, LLC will connect 637 homes and businesses (94.37% of eligible locations).

- Lincoln County: Spectrum Southeast, LLC will connect 271 homes and businesses (10.35% of eligible locations).

- McDowell County: Skyrunner will connect 704 homes and businesses (32.8% of eligible locations).

- Mitchell County: French Broad Electric Membership Corp will connect 432 homes and businesses (51.86% of eligible locations).

- Onslow County: Connect Holding II, LLC will connect 626 homes and businesses (60.71% of eligible locations).

- Pitt County: Connect Holding II, LLC will connect 534 homes and businesses (92.55% of eligible locations).

- Sampson County: Connect Holding II, LLC will connect 1,605 homes and businesses (73.59% of eligible locations).

- Tyrrell County: Connect Holding II, LLC will connect 237 homes and businesses (73.37% of eligible locations).

- Vance County: Connect Holding II, LLC will connect 1,327 homes and businesses (50.65% of eligible locations).

- Wilkes County: Wilkes Telephone Membership Corporation (RiverStreet Networks) will connect 658 homes and businesses (94.13% of eligible locations).

- Wilson County: Connect Holding II, LLC will connect 791 homes and businesses (64.26% of eligible locations).

The CAB program fosters collaboration between counties and NCDIT to identify areas that need internet access, solicit proposals from prequalified service providers, and rapidly allocate awards. Recipients must ensure high-speed service with a minimum of 100 Mbps for both download and upload.

This award will be included in NCDIT’s dashboard, highlighting programs funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act. It forms part of Governor Stein’s effort to bridge the digital divide, complementing the over $547 million in GREAT grants and previous CAB initiatives aimed at connecting more than 200,000 North Carolina households and businesses to high-speed internet.

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