Governor Josh Stein announced on Mar. 23 that nearly $26 million in awards will be distributed through the state’s Stop-Gap Solutions program to connect 5,161 rural homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions across 66 counties in North Carolina to high-speed internet infrastructure by the end of 2026.
The expansion of broadband access is intended to help bridge digital divides in rural communities. High-speed internet is increasingly seen as essential for education, business growth, health care access, and public safety.
“These broadband projects will ensure more families can soon access telehealth, students can complete their homework, businesses can compete in larger markets, and communities can thrive,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I am committed to improving broadband access across the state and making sure no community is left behind.”
The Stop-Gap Solutions program is administered by the North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity using federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. The initiative targets unserved and underserved locations with targeted broadband line extensions. This approach aims to reach individuals and small groups in hard-to-reach areas that may not benefit from other statewide efforts.
Teena Piccione, NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer said: “High-speed internet access is the foundation for health care delivery, public safety operations, workforce development, and economic growth in our state. This program allows us to move with urgency and precision to connect more North Carolinians.”
Awards have been granted to a range of providers including Atlantic Telephone Membership Cooperative/FOCUS Broadband ($1.65 million), Cherokee Cablevision ($533 thousand), Citizens Telephone Company/Comporium Communications ($4 million), Connect Holding II/Brightspeed ($1.67 million), ERC Broadband ($1.26 million), Frontier Communications ($3.52 million), HarvestBeam Inc., LREMC Technologies/RIVR Tech ($3.81 million), North State Communications/Lumos ($3.97 million), Roanoke Connect Holdings/Fybe ($2.4 million), Skyrunner Inc., Star Telephone Membership Corp/Star Communications ($443 thousand), Wilkes Telephone Membership Corporation/RiverStreet Networks (nearly $960 thousand) and Yadkin Valley Telephone Membership Corporation/Zirrus among others.
NCDIT has already contracted over $670 million in broadband projects set for completion this year that will connect more than 252,000 homes and businesses statewide; it has also awarded almost $50 million toward computers and digital skills training programs reaching over 66 thousand people through trusted trainers according to the official website.
The Office of the Governor serves all residents as chief executive officer overseeing law execution; it leads policy through budget direction and pardons while commanding the National Guard according to the official website. Josh Stein currently serves as the state’s seventy-sixth governor according to the official website.
Together these efforts are part of a comprehensive strategy pairing new infrastructure with tools residents need for effective use once connected.
