A state grant will provide high-speed internet to more homes and businesses in Dare and Hyde counties. On Tuesday, April 8, Governor Josh Stein announced that over $31 million will be allocated to projects under the Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program. This will connect 10,810 households and businesses to high-speed internet, including areas in Dare County and Ocracoke.
The funding includes approximately $22.1 million from the federal American Rescue Plan, awarded by the N.C. Department of Information Technology (NCDIT). Nearly $9.6 million will come from selected broadband providers. In Dare County, an award to Brightspeed will provide high-speed internet to 20 homes or businesses.
This covers 19.61% of the county’s 102 eligible locations. In Hyde County, an award to Brightspeed will connect 1,282 homes or businesses.
State allocates $31 million for broadband
This represents 95.25% of the county’s 1,346 eligible locations. Brightspeed’s work on Ocracoke Island is scheduled to begin in September 2025. The project will involve laying fiber-optic cable underground at the island’s north end.
It will then be mounted on power poles, extending and strengthening the service area. The CAB program creates partnerships between counties and NCDIT. It aims to pinpoint areas needing internet access and solicit provider proposals.
Awardees must commit to delivering high-speed service that meets or exceeds speeds of 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload. For more information about the NCDIT Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity, visit their website.
Image Credits: Photo by Vladimir Solomianyi on Unsplash
Cameron is a highly regarded contributor in the rapidly evolving fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. His articles delve into the theoretical underpinnings of AI, the practical applications of machine learning across industries, ethical considerations of autonomous systems, and the societal impacts of these disruptive technologies.
