Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, McDowell, and Wilkes Counties are among 69 counties selected to receive a portion of the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grant allocation.
The press release of the grant roll out follows Governor Cooper’s announcement on Wednesday, August 31 while visiting Mebane, NC.
The grants are awarded to internet service providers that participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which offers eligible low-income households a $30 per month discount on high-speed internet service. To learn more about the discounted rate for high-speed internet visit getinternet.gov.
According to the press release, the internet service provider in Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, and Wilkes Counties is Connect Holding II, LLC. The internet service provider in McDowell County is Spectrum Southeast, LLC.
The grant is awarded through The N.C. Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Broadband Infrastructure Office, through the Division of Broadband and Digital Equity.
Yesterday’s (August 31) $206 million allotment is the largest disbursement from the original total $350 million grant. Previous allocations were announced on July 18 and August 1.
On July 18, $23.4 million was awarded to 12 counties including Alexander and Avery Counties. The July 18 allocation was expected to expand the internet to 7,000 households and 374 businesses. In Alexander County the service provider was through the Yadkin Valley TMC (Yadtel | Zirrus). Alexander County has posted a notice on their Facebook page sharing with the community that they have partnered with Open Broadband, LLC and Zirrus to expand internet access. For more information about expanded internet access in Alexander County, visit the county’s Facebook page. In Avery County the service provider is Spectrum Southeast, LLC.
On August 1, $30.8 million was awarded to 11 counties to expand internet services to approximately 13,000 households and 582 businesses.
Since July, 92 of North Carolina’s 100 counties have received a portion of the original $350 million allocation. Additional grant announcements are expected this fall as the state works to dole out the remainder of the original $350 million total funding.
The grant is meant to mitigate economic disparities that may impact accessibility for low-income households and to ensure equitable access to the internet in rural and urban communities and
According to Wednesday’s press release , it is expected that roughly 85,000 households and 2,400 businesses will gain access to broadband services as a result of the $206 million allocation.
In Wednesday’s press release, Governor Cooper identified the internet as “critical” as he highlighted that internet access is needed for work, education, socialization, access telehealth, and as a tool for business owners.
Read the full press release here: NC Governor Roy Cooper
Source: NC Governor Roy Cooper website, press release published 8/31/2022
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