North Carolina prepares for a $1 billion broadband push

Despite nearly 70,000 North Carolina households and businesses conducting internet connection speed tests as part of a year-long survey, the state “still has a lot more to do” before it can begin a $1 billion broadband expansion, according to state officials. The survey, launched in July 2020 by North Carolina State University’s Friday Institute, found that at least 450,000 households, or roughly 10 percent of the state, lacks adequate broadband coverage. Ben Shelton, a project manager at the state’s Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, said the data offers a fresh perspective on the digital divide compared to what’s shown by the Federal Communications Commission, which has been criticized for letting internet service providers overstate their coverage areas. While FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has acknowledged that the agency’s data is flawed, it’s currently up to states to collect their own data if they want a more accurate measure of broadband availability. With more than $1 billion in funding set aside for broadband for fiscal year 2022 — much of which will be federal stimulus funding — ensuring North Carolina has accurate coverage data is more important than ever, according to Shelton. Using the broadband survey, the state is able to get on-the-ground information from residents, filling in the gaps between the FCC and “what people on the ground are really telling us,” Shelton said.