Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Digital Beat

The BEAD Plan for Western North Carolina:
What You Need to Know

Starting on September 27, 2024, Western North Carolina (WNC) was battered by wind and flooding from Hurricane Helene, the costliest natural disaster in North Carolina history. Entire towns were submerged underwater, and mountain communities were turned into islands as communications infrastructure in the region largely failed. 

Over the last year, residents and advocates have worked tirelessly to rebuild and ensure that WNC isn’t left disconnected again. Land of Sky Regional Council’s Technology Recovery Program distributed over 1,600 devices, including laptops, hot spots, tablets, and cell phones. Local internet service providers came together to distribute hot spots and establish community Wi-Fi. Local leaders are working together to increase broadband access and digital skills. 

Now, the region has its first look at the plans for a broader investment in communications infrastructure. On August 28, 2025, the North Carolina Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity released the state’s draft Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program Final Proposal for public viewing and comment.

Background

Created in 2021 by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program provides $42.45 billion to help states and U.S. territories bring affordable, high-speed internet to the millions of Americans who currently lack it. In June 2023, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the agency responsible for administering the BEAD Program, announced allocations for each state. North Carolina received the fifth-largest allocation at $1.5 billion. 

On June 6, 2025, NTIA, under new Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, announced revised rules for the BEAD Program. The changes are primarily designed to reduce government spending on BEAD. To do this, NTIA has eliminated BEAD’s preference for high-quality fiber infrastructure and reduced the number of eligible locations. The changes also required all states and territories, even those that had already had their Final Proposals approved by NTIA, to conduct a “Benefit of the Bargain” round of bidding and submit new Final Proposals within 90 days, i.e., by September 4, 2025. 

North Carolina's Final Proposal

If approved by NTIA, North Carolina’s Final Proposal would leverage $408.5 million—just over a quarter of the state’s $1.5 billion BEAD allocation—to connect 93,138 homes and businesses, as well as 374 “community anchor institutions” (CAIs), such as fire stations and police departments. Sixty-eight percent of these locations will get fiber internet service, 30 percent will get service via low-Earth orbit satellite (e.g. Amazon Kuiper or Starlink), and the remaining 2 percent will get cable or fixed-wireless service. To build out these networks, the state would rely on 21 different internet service providers and require that service be made available within the next four years.

Impact on Western North Carolina

Nearly a third of the state’s BEAD locations are in Western North Carolina. Compared to the state as a whole, Western North Carolina has a higher percentage of locations that would be served by fiber—81 percent in WNC compared to 68 percent statewide. The remaining 19 percent would be served by low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite. The average cost per location in WNC is $4,509, which is roughly in line with the state average.

Here is how the state’s plan proposes to bring service to everyone in Western North Carolina.

Avery County

In Avery County, 100 percent of the 81 broadband-servicable locations (BSLs) will be served by LEO. Amazon’s Kuiper received a $48,600 award, bringing the cost per location in the county to $600. 

Buncombe County

In Buncombe County, 80 percent (1380) of the 1,744 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 20 percent (364) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $4,471.88. 

Burke County

In Burke County, 84 percent (1668) of the 1,982 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 16 percent (314) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $1,819.91. 

Cherokee County

In Cherokee County, 54 percent (1081) of the 1,986 BSLs will be served by fiber, while 46 percent (905) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $3,361.66. 

Clay County

In Clay County, 100 percent of the 306 BSLs will be served by LEO. Amazon’s Kuiper received a $183,600.00 award, putting the cost per location in the county at $600.

Graham County

In Graham County, 86 percent (2400) of the 2,764 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 14 percent (364) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $2,733.10. 

Haywood County

In Haywood County, 63 percent (574) of the 905 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 37 percent (331) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $6245.34. 

Henderson County

In Henderson County, 93 percent (3529) of the 3,797 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 7 percent (268) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $4,090.28.

Jackson County

In Jackson County, 92 percent (3229) of the 3,509 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 8 percent (280) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $4,666.02.

Macon County

In Macon County, 93 percent (2433) of the 2,602 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 7 percent (169) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $3,359.18. 

Madison County

In Madison County, 100 percent of the 276 BSLs will be served by LEO. Amazon’s Kuiper received a $165,600 award, putting the cost per location in the county at $600.

McDowell County

In McDowell County, 71 percent (943) of the 1,322 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 29 percent (379) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $18,274.73. 

Mitchell County

In Mitchell County, 100 percent of the 240 BSLs will be served by LEO. Amazon’s Kuiper received a $144,000 award, putting the cost per location in the county at $600.

Polk County

In Polk County, 100 percent of the 269 BSLs will be served by LEO. Amazon’s Kuiper received a $161,400 award, putting the cost per location in the county at $600. 

Rutherford County

In Rutherford County, 95 percent (4862) of the 5,077 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 5 percent (215) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $3,956.43.

Swain County

In Swain County, 67 percent (1008) of the 1,489 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 33 percent (481) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $4,829.34. The fiber provider in Swain County is Cherokee Cablevision, an internet service provider owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and operated by Balsam West. 

Transylvania County

In Transylvania County, 94 (953) percent of the 1,009 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 6 percent (56) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $8,693.51.

Yancey County

In Yancey County, 100 percent of the 117 BSLs will be served by LEO. Amazon’s Kuiper received a $70,200 award, putting the cost per location in the county at $600.

More North Carolina Coverage

• North Carolinians Vote for Broadband
• The Road to Recovery in Western North Carolina
• Broadband on the Ballot in North Carolina
• North Carolina's Approach to Digital Equity and Education

Zoë Walker is a Writing Associate at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.

Kevin Taglang
Executive Editor, Communications-related Headlines
Benton Institute
for Broadband & Society
1041 Ridge Rd, Unit 214
Wilmette, IL 60091
847-220-4531
headlines AT benton DOT org