North Carolina Office of the Governor
Governors Advocate for Affordable Connectivity Program
As Governors from across the country, we urge you to work collaboratively with the Biden Administration to ensure that a key tool in our joint efforts to bridge the digital divide—the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)—receives additional funding. It is essential that people do not lose access to the internet that this vital program has allowed them to gain. There is broad agreement across the political spectrum that affordable high-speed internet is a necessity in today’s world, whether it’s for education, work or health care.
North Carolina Governor Cooper Urges Congress to Continue the ACP
Having a high-speed internet connection—and the ability to use it—is critical to modern life. One major challenge persists: we can run fiber broadband to every home in North Carolina, but if the residents can’t afford the service, they still risk being left behind. Fortunately, Congress created a tremendously impactful tool to combat the high costs of internet service as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). I urge you to reauthorize this critical program that makes internet access more affordable.
North Carolina Governor Cooper Announces First Round of Completing Access to Broadband Awards to Expand Internet Access in 14 Counties
North Carolina’s first Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program. It will connect 6,012 households and 164 businesses in 14 counties to high-speed internet.
North Carolina Governor Cooper Announces CommScope to Add 250 New Jobs in $60 Million Investment for Fiber-Optic Cable Manufacturing Operations
CommScope, a global telecommunications leader, plans to add 250 new jobs with a $60.3 million investment to expand its fiber-optic cable manufacturing operations in Catawba County, North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper (D-NC) announced. CommScope develops, manufactures, installs, and supports network and hardware infrastructure for a digital society, such as the high-speed internet that connects people and places around the world. This project will upgrade the Catawba County facilities to increase the company’s capacity to produce fiber optic cable.
North Carolina Launches $24 Million Digital Equity Grant Program
Gov Roy Cooper (D-NC) is launching North Carolina's first digital equity grant program, which will help North Carolinians afford high-speed internet, obtain digital devices, and access digital literacy resources. The multi-phased program, administered by the NC Department of Information Technology’s Office of Digital Equity and Literacy, will invest up to $24 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for collaborative digital equity projects. The program’s first phase will invest $10 million in total funding to support 10-15 state government entities to develop or expand digi
Gov Cooper Announces $206 Million in GREAT Grants to Expand Internet Access in North Carolina
Gov Roy Cooper (D-NC) announced that nearly 85,000 households and more than 2,400 businesses in 69 North Carolina counties are set to receive access to high-speed internet thanks to more than $206 million of Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants. This is the state’s largest round of GREAT grant awards to date. With this announcement, over $260 million in GREAT grants have been awarded to providers since July 2022.
North Carolina Awards $30 Million in Grants to Expand Internet Access in 11 Counties
Gov Roy Cooper (D-NC) announced that more than 13,000 households and 582 businesses across North Carolina are set to receive access to high-speed internet thanks to more than $30.8 million in grants. The NC Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) awarded the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants to expand broadband infrastructure in the state.
North Carolina Awards $23 Million to Expand Broadband Access in 12 Counties
Gov Roy Cooper (D-NC) announced that nearly 7,000 households and 374 businesses in North Carolina are set to receive high-speed internet thanks to more than $23.4 million in grants. The North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Broadband Infrastructure Office has awarded Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants to expand broadband infrastructure in 12 counties. The grants are part of Gov Cooper’s plan to invest nearly $2 billion in federal and state funds to close the digital divide in North Carolina.