Raleigh, NC – In the latest round of Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program announcements from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT), several CarolinaLink members have been selected to receive program funding to expand high-speed internet service to unserved addresses in nine counties. Collectively, these projects will connect more than 3,450 unserved households and businesses in rural North Carolina.
The announcements are part of a broader initiative by North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and the NCDIT, who recently announced $106 million in CAB funding to support projects that will deliver broadband to 24,590 locations statewide. CarolinaLink members selected as CAB project recipients include FOCUS Broadband, Randolph Communications, RiverStreet Networks, Star Communications, Surry Communications, and Zirrus. The projects were chosen in partnership with NCDIT and local county leaders.
Funding for these projects comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, along with financial contributions from the selected broadband providers.The counties and total addresses that will be served by CarolinaLink members in these last two announcements include:
“Good partnerships between our counties, the state, and internet providers will connect North Carolinians,” stated Governor Josh Stein in a recent 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.”
These latest CAB awards build on nearly $630 million in Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants and previous CAB projects that are expected to connect more than 245,000 residents statewide. To date, CarolinaLink members have been awarded a total of 19 CAB projects to expand high-speed internet access to 7,100 unserved addresses.