Although a great deal of attention is on the 2024 elections at the national level, state elections could play a major role in how high-speed networks are rolled out, particularly in regards to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. 

The need for reliable communications is very apparent in the state this week. Since Friday, September 27, Western North Carolina has been experiencing catastrophic flooding as a result of Hurricane Helene. Although towns like Asheville and Boone attract swaths of tourists, the area is generally very rural, and the rocky, mountainous terrain makes communications infrastructure difficult to install and maintain in the best of conditions.

In the wake of the storm, the region has almost completely lost cell phone and internet service, making it nearly impossible for residents to communicate with friends and family—and for friends and family to get in touch with loved ones impacted by flooding. Major carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are working to restore service, but the historic flooding and damage are making repair efforts difficult, and none have been able to provide timelines for full restoration. 

In the coming weeks and months as Western North Carolina recovers and rebuilds, support and investments in strong broadband and communications infrastructure will be critical.

North Carolina's Broadband Record

North Carolina has a strong record on broadband. The current Governor, Roy Cooper (D-NC), has championed broadband over his two terms. In 2021, Gov. Cooper launched the nation’s first Office of Digital Equity and Literacy. In 2018, through an Executive Order, Gov. Cooper started the Connecting NC Task Force and launched the Growing Rural Economies With Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant program, which funds the terrestrial deployment of broadband within unserved areas of economically distressed counties. GREAT has awarded $350 million since 2022. He has also advocated for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), and North Carolina had the ninth-largest percentage of ACP enrollees in the country when the program shut down earlier this year due to a lack of federal funding. 

While state Republicans gerrymandering efforts have made national news and eliminated much of the partisan competition for local races, there are at least three hotly contested races in the 2024 election cycle that may have significant impacts on high-speed broadband roll outs. 

Race for Governor

Josh Stein is the Democratic candidate for Governor of North Carolina. He is currently serving his second term as North Carolina’s Attorney General, where he has worked closely with Governor Roy Cooper. Stein’s campaign page includes one direct reference to broadband—on the Strengthening Rural Communities page, 

In his time as Attorney General, Stein has repeatedly called for increased funding for broadband access. 

• In 2021, he and 29 other attorneys general urged the FCC to “amend or waive E-Rate program rules as necessary to provide broadband connectivity for remote schooling.” 
• Stein also joined with 16 other attorneys general to protect users of the Lifeline program. The attorneys general asked the FCC to make sure that any mergers or acquisitions between telecommunications companies protect and maintain the affordable services that Lifeline provides for millions of Americans. 
• After winning over $13 million in a settlement with Dish Network, Stein urged the North Carolina legislature to use the funds to address the digital divide. 
• Stein also successfully negotiated a settlement with Frontier Communications that required the company to invest $20 million to improve internet speeds and access in the state. 

“Affordable, reliable internet is necessary for North Carolinians to work, study, get health care, and run businesses,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “We’ve been hearing concerns from Frontier customers for years now, and I’m hopeful that these investments will lead to better service.”

Mark Robinson is the Republican candidate for Governor of North Carolina. He currently serves as the Lieutenant Governor. Robinson’s 10-point economic plan includes one direct reference to broadband,

However, Lt. Gov Robinson has said that the state should reject federal funding for public schools. While he did not specify which federal funding he would reject, the federal E-Rate program has provided over $1 billion in discounts towards internet access and connections for North Carolina schools and libraries. Rejecting E-Rate and other federal funding for schools would make it harder for public schools to connect to the internet, and could widen the digital divide for North Carolina students.

Race for Attorney General 

Jeff Jackson is the Democratic candidate for Attorney General. He currently serves in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is known for his use of social media to explain policy issues and the function of the U.S. Congress. Jackson’s campaign website includes one direct reference to broadband—a bill that he sponsored in the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to remove restrictions blocking electric cooperatives from seeking federal funding for broadband services. 

In a 2021 blog post, Getting to Universal Broadband in North Carolina, Rep Jackson wrote about the various issues preventing universal broadband in North Carolina, including the ban on public broadband, and laid out some of the possible solutions, writing,

Dan Bishop is the Republican candidate for Attorney General. He is currently a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. As a member of the North Carolina State Senate, Rep. Bishop was notable for being the lead author of the controversial North Carolina House Bill 2, also known as the “Bathroom Bill.” While his campaign page does not mention broadband or list any policy priorities, in 2020 Rep. Bishop announced an award from the the Economic Development Administration to increase broadband development in hurricane impacted areas. 

In 2021, Bishop voted against the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which provided a combined $1.61 billion for broadband in North Carolina. In a press release, Rep Bishop called ARPA “nothing more than a partisan liberal wish list.”

First Congressional District

North Carolina has one of the most competitive congressional races in the country. The state’s first Congressional district consists of 21 counties. Much of the district is rural, households there are poorer than in other parts of the state, and agriculture remains an economic driver.

Don Davis is the Democratic candidate for North Carolina’s First Congressional District. He is the incumbent in this race. Rep. Davis is a veteran and former mayor. His campaign website includes two direct references to broadband—including a section on rural broadband infrastructure and rebuilding the rural economy. Rep. Davis is a supporter of the Affordable Connectivity Program, and joined calls to re-fund the program. Rep. Davis has spoken about the importance of broadband.

In a March press release from the Problem Solvers Caucus regarding the impending end of the ACP, Rep Davis said,

Laurie Buckhout is the Republican candidate for North Carolina’s first Congressional district. She is a retired Army Colonel. Her campaign website does not include any references to broadband. She does not have any record on the subject.

Elections Matter

Governor Cooper’s Closing the Digital Divide Plan lays out three goals for North Carolina to achieve by 2026:

1. Raising the percentage of North Carolina households with high-speed internet subscriptions from 73% to 80%.
2. Raising the percentage of North Carolina households with children with high-speed internet subscriptions from 81% to 100%.
3. Increasing adoption rates to 80% across racial subgroups:

• Native American (currently 57%)
• Black: (currently 64%)
• Latinx: (currently 68%)
• White: (currently 76%)

In the 2024 elections, North Carolinians should consider which candidates will get the state across that finish line.

See More on North Carolina's Broadband Priorities

• American Rescue Plan Helping North Carolina Complete Access to Broadband
• A Vision and a Mission for Digital Equity in North Carolina
• North Carolina's Approach to Digital Equity and Education
• Connections and Collaboration in the Mountains

Follow North Carolina broadband news

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

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.

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