CNS News–In a significant development for North Carolina’s digital infrastructure, Governor Roy Cooper, alongside President Joe Biden, made a landmark announcement in Raleigh on January 18th. The declaration centered around a substantial $82 million investment derived from the American Rescue Plan’s Capital Projects Fund, aimed at bolstering high-speed internet connectivity.
This initiative is poised to benefit at least 16,000 homes and businesses across the state, marking a pivotal step in the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader Investing in America agenda. The $82 million allocation is set to fund Governor Cooper’s innovative Stop-Gap Solutions Program, specifically designed to bridge the digital divide in the state’s most remote and underserved regions.
This program underscores a concerted effort to ensure that every North Carolinian, regardless of their geographic location, has access to reliable and swift internet service—a utility that has become indispensable in the contemporary world. Governor Cooper expressed deep gratitude towards the Biden-Harris Administration for their steadfast dedication to eradicating the digital divide, not only within the confines of North Carolina but across the entire nation.
He emphasized the critical nature of internet access in today’s society and lauded President Biden for his instrumental role in facilitating the connectivity of North Carolinians to essential digital services. Moreover, Governor Cooper highlighted the administration’s efforts to make internet services more affordable for the average citizen, thereby enhancing overall accessibility.
The Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to this cause is reflected in the staggering sum of over $3 billion being funneled into North Carolina through various initiatives, including the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These funds are earmarked for the ambitious goal of connecting families and businesses throughout the state to dependable and cost-effective internet services.
A significant portion of this investment, amounting to $1 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act, is projected to extend high-speed internet connectivity to more than 300,000 homes and businesses by the year 2026. To date, North Carolina has already allocated nearly $350 million of this funding towards Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants.
These grants are instrumental in connecting 137,646 households and 4,441 businesses across 92 counties. Additionally, $22 million from the Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program awards is set to benefit an extra 6,012 households and 164 businesses in 14 counties, further expanding the state’s digital footprint.
The American Rescue Plan’s contributions extend beyond infrastructure, supporting initiatives aimed at enhancing access to digital devices and promoting digital literacy and skills training. These efforts are crucial for ensuring that the benefits of increased connectivity are fully realized, enabling individuals and communities to leverage digital resources for education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
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Furthermore, North Carolina is slated to receive more than $1.5 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. This significant investment will underpin the state’s comprehensive strategy to guarantee affordable, reliable high-speed internet service for all its residents, effectively eliminating digital disparities.
Amid these advancements, Governor Cooper, in alignment with the Biden-Harris Administration, is advocating for sustained Congressional support for the Affordable Connectivity Program. This program plays a vital role in subsidizing internet costs for millions of American households, including nearly 900,000 within North Carolina.