This April, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein announced the launch of the state’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) plan to connect more than 93,000 homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions across the state to high-speed internet by 2030.
The BEAD program will be administered nationally by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and at the state level by the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT). The program comes with an allocation of $1.53 billion for North Carolina, with $319 million just unlocked after federal approval.
“Reliable high-speed internet opens doors of opportunity, helps businesses grow, connects people with health care, and strengthens our economy,” said Stein. “These new projects will move us ever closer to connecting every household and community in the state with broadband.”
In addition to the BEAD program, NCDIT’s Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity has launched nearly $700 million in American Rescue Plan Act-funded projects to extend internet access to more than 257,000 locations this year. The Division has also awarded nearly $50 million to enable the distribution of more than 40,000 computers and provide digital skills training for more than 68,000 people throughout the state.
Together, these initiatives ensure that more North Carolinians can access high-speed internet and have the skills to use that internet for essential services, workforce development, and economic growth.
“Reliable, high-speed internet ensures that rural communities and regions are not left behind but are positioned to thrive in an increasingly digital economy,” said Patrick Woodie, President and CEO of the NC Rural Center. “This offers a once-in-a-generation investment to close the digital divide and unlock economic opportunity, educational access, and health care connectivity for rural North Carolina.”
