North Carolina

The N.C. Department of Information Technology’s Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity announced more than $10 million in Completing Access to Broadband program projects to connect 2,762 households and businesses in Cherokee, Clay and Macon counties to high-speed internet. These projects will be funded by more than $7.5 million from the federal American Rescue Plan awarded by NCDIT and nearly $2.6 million from selected broadband providers: 

The North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) announced Annette Taylor’s appointment as Deputy Secretary for NCDIT’s Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity, which was created in July 2021 to prioritize the state’s efforts to close the digital divide. Taylor joined NCDIT in May 2022 as the director of the Office of Digital Opportunity, established as the first of its kind in the nation.

Brightspeed has made it easier for families and local businesses in Wake Forest and beyond to access multi-gig-speed internet. Joined by N.C. Department of Information Technology Representative Angie Bailey, State Representative Mike Schietzelt, Wake Forest Mayor Vivian A.

MCNC and Fybe, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Roanoke Cooperative, announced the creation of eNCore. This new non-profit collaboration is tasked with bridging the digital divide for residential and business communities throughout rural North Carolina—providing next-generation connectivity and high-speed access to all the modern resources needed to participate in today’s digital economy. 

Community colleges across the United States share the tradition of providing opportunities for people to pursue lifelong learning. In North Carolina, an ambitious pilot cohort is working to ensure that those opportunities reach everyone—especially those who live in areas with scarce resources or have life experiences that would normally impede their ability to access classroom instruction.

Brightspeed says that it has received $238 million in local, state, and federal grants and funds. The money, the company says, will expand the number of addresses passed by planned projects by 121,000 in 14 states. Brightspeed, which is based in North Carolina, says that it will continue to pursue state and federal grants. The funding:

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has recommended for award more than $250 million to 24 organizations to support digital skills and inclusion projects in communities across the country. The funding will support 24 projects across 39 states and territories. Awards will be issued following budget review and processing. 

Governor Roy Cooper announced the launch of the state’s Tech Resource Finder, a new website that provides more than 1,100 resources that help North Carolinians use the internet, find public computers and Wi-Fi and access technical support and digital skills classes across the state. The N.C.

The North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Division of Broadband and Digital Equity today posted Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program scopes of work to expand high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved homes and businesses at approximately 67,724 eligible locations in 37 counties. The division posted 53 additional CAB program scopes of work on