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The Buildout: Brightspeed gets more broadband grants in North Carolina

Brightspeed is accelerating its fiber-optic footprint in North Carolina with a fresh surge of broadband deployment, powered by newly awarded state grants. The company has earmarked these funds to deliver high-speed internet to underserved regions, with major buildouts planned in counties including Davidson, Catawba, Nash, and Chatham. This initiative is part of a broader commitment to reach more than 300,000 North Carolina locations by the end of 2024, a milestone built on the momentum of its 2023 expansion that brought service to over 120,000 new homes and businesses. As state and federal investments align to close the digital divide, Brightspeed is anchoring itself as a key partner in the region’s connectivity future.

State-Funded Momentum: How North Carolina Grants Fuel Brightspeed’s Broadband Buildout

Types of Grants Secured by Brightspeed

Brightspeed has secured multiple funding allocations through North Carolina's Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant Program. This state-administered initiative provides matching grants to internet service providers that commit to deploying broadband in unserved and underserved areas. In the most recent funding round in 2023, Brightspeed was awarded over $60 million to support infrastructure projects across more than 20 counties.

These grants fall into two primary categories:

North Carolina’s Office of Broadband Infrastructure Coordination manages the GREAT program, ensuring that funds are directed toward strategic projects. Brightspeed’s proposals consistently align with priority criteria, including:

North Carolina’s Role in Broadband Development

Beyond grant disbursement, the State of North Carolina plays an active role in broadband expansion policy. Through the Department of Information Technology (NCDIT), the state sets benchmarks, participates in performance auditing, and works with county-level stakeholders to identify critical needs. The state ranks project proposals using a weighted scoring system, factoring in technical specifications, sustainability, cost-efficiency per location, and coverage density.

Brightspeed's recent applications succeeded because of meticulous alignment with these standards. For instance, their commitment to deploy fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) architecture—a long-term infrastructure investment—received high marks during the evaluation process.

Grant Application Mechanics and Scoring Criteria

The GREAT Grant application process is rigorous and data-driven. Applicants must provide engineering plans, detailed cost breakdowns, proof of community support, and speed test data validating the need in targeted service areas. Upon submission, proposals undergo technical reviews by state engineers and administrative checks by a review panel.

Scoring prioritizes:

Brightspeed’s repeated success demonstrates a clear understanding of this framework. In their 2023 filings, they submitted geographic heat maps pinpointing coverage gaps, paired with network schematics tailored to rural topographies. The strategy paid off—each awarded grant corresponded with areas that historically lacked infrastructure investment.

Bridging the Gap: Why High-Speed Internet Transforms Rural Communities

Limited Access, Lasting Impact

In rural areas across North Carolina, internet access has long lagged behind. Residents in underserved regions face noticeably slower connection speeds—or none at all. This digital shortfall limits everything from basic communication to essential services. Children struggle to complete schoolwork online. Healthcare providers can’t deliver telehealth efficiently. Entrepreneurs and workers remain cut off from digital markets and remote jobs.

The Federal Communications Commission’s 2021 Broadband Deployment Report stated that 17.3% of Americans in rural regions lacked access to fixed broadband with minimum speeds of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, compared to just 1.5% in urban areas. In many rural counties of North Carolina, the figures are even starker.

Brightspeed’s Expansion Targets the Root of the Problem

With the recent broadband grants awarded, Brightspeed is funneling investment directly into these underserved communities. By building fiber-optic infrastructure, the provider delivers internet speeds capable of supporting whole households with simultaneous online activity—video conferencing, streaming, online learning, and more.

Connectivity Drives Access to Healthcare, Education, and Jobs

When broadband enters a rural community, it changes what becomes possible. Telehealth adoption grows, enabling patients to consult specialists without the burden of long-distance travel—critical in regions with provider shortages. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, demand for virtual care surged by 1,000% during the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained strong.

In education, students gain access to asynchronous and real-time learning platforms. Digital tools such as interactive learning apps, cloud-based assignments, and test prep resources become viable daily supports. A fiber-enabled home turns into a classroom, a library, and a place where students are no longer digitally left behind.

Then there's the workforce. Remote job postings have increased by over 300% since 2020, according to data from FlexJobs. With reliable broadband, rural residents can tap into roles historically concentrated in cities: software development, customer service, digital marketing, and beyond.

Ask someone working remotely from a previously unconnected farm—and they’ll describe the shift as transformative. That’s the practical power behind Brightspeed’s broadband expansion efforts in North Carolina.

Economic Development through Enhanced Connectivity

Expanding broadband infrastructure generates measurable economic returns for communities and businesses alike. Reliable high-speed internet enables digital transformation, encourages entrepreneurship, and strengthens the competitiveness of local economies. In North Carolina, where Brightspeed continues to receive broadband grants for network buildout, the correlation between connectivity and economic resilience becomes especially evident.

Business Growth and Competitive Edge

Enhanced connectivity drives small business innovation and scalability. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), rural counties with robust broadband access have significantly higher rates of new business formation. A 2020 USDA study found that rural counties with greater broadband availability saw an increase of 1.4% in employment and a 3.1% rise in the number of businesses compared to areas lacking strong digital infrastructure.

Manufacturers benefit from connected supply chains, logistics firms operate with improved efficiency, and retail enterprises reach out to wider customer bases through e-commerce platforms. Faster connections make it possible for local firms to adopt cloud technologies, utilize AI-driven solutions, and offer remote services—all critical in highly competitive markets.

Attracting Investment and Retaining Talent

Reliable broadband access plays a direct role in investment decisions. Businesses evaluating potential expansion or relocation give considerable weight to internet infrastructure. A Brookings Institution report from 2022 linked broadband availability in underserved markets to increased site selection interest by tech firms and remote-first employers.

In areas served by Brightspeed’s ongoing broadband projects, such connectivity boosts the appeal of regional towns and counties. With work-from-anywhere models becoming institutionalized across industries, professionals no longer need to gravitate towards urban centers. Talented workers are staying—or returning—to their hometowns, a phenomenon often referred to as "rural reshoring."

Supporting Local Ecosystems and Innovation

The compounded effect of these developments transforms rural economies from stagnant to opportunity-rich. Brightspeed’s broadband initiatives, fueled by targeted grants in North Carolina, directly set this chain reaction in motion.

Engineering the Future: Telecommunications Infrastructure Projects Accelerating Brightspeed’s Expansion

Deploying High-Capacity Fiber Networks

Brightspeed's expansion initiative in North Carolina centers on building an extensive fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network. This infrastructure enables direct fiber-optic connections to homes and businesses, bypassing traditional copper lines to deliver significantly faster and more reliable internet service. The company plans to lay thousands of miles of fiber cabling, integrating advanced optical network terminals and high-capacity nodes capable of multi-gigabit throughputs.

Understanding Fiber-Optic Technology

At the core of this infrastructure lies fiber-optic technology, which transmits data through strands of glass or plastic fibers using light waves. Unlike legacy DSL systems that rely on electrical signals over metal wires, fiber optics maintain signal strength over long distances and support symmetrical upload and download speeds. Data travels at nearly the speed of light, reducing latency and increasing bandwidth capacity exponentially.

Each fiber strand can carry roughly 10 Gbps or more, depending on the equipment and configuration. Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) further extends capacity by allowing multiple light wavelengths to travel simultaneously without interference. This makes fiber networks not only faster but also scalable, future-proofing the infrastructure against upcoming technology demands.

Scope and Scale Across North Carolina

Backed by multiple rounds of public funding, Brightspeed is targeting underserved and unserved regions across dozens of counties in North Carolina. The scope includes both greenfield builds in areas with no broadband access and network upgrades in regions with outdated infrastructure. These projects involve complex engineering phases—permit acquisition, pole attachment coordination, trenching, splicing, and testing—all managed at a rapid deployment pace to meet grant timelines.

Project timelines vary based on geography and permitting processes, but Brightspeed set an internal benchmark to cover over 300,000 locations by the end of 2024 in North Carolina alone. With construction already underway in multiple counties, residents in both mountainous and coastal regions are beginning to see utility markings, fiber reels, and trenching equipment roll into their neighborhoods.

Collaborative Acceleration: How Public-Private Partnerships Drive Broadband Expansion

The Model Behind Brightspeed’s Cooperation with Government Entities

Brightspeed’s broadband expansion in North Carolina provides a measurable case study in how strategic alliances between public institutions and private firms can scale infrastructure at a faster pace. The company’s efforts align closely with the state’s broadband initiative, relying not only on public grants but also on a cooperative policy environment. Through the North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grant program, Brightspeed secures funding tied directly to proven deployment capabilities and detailed project milestones.

These partnerships operate on a co-investment model. Brightspeed commits capital and technical resources, while state and federal agencies supply targeted grant funding. This structure mitigates risk, aligns incentives, and ensures accountability through strict performance requirements. Transparent oversight, including project-level reporting and verification, strengthens the model further.

National Case Studies That Set Precedents

North Carolina isn’t alone in leveraging public-private collaboration. In Tennessee, the partnership between EPB and the city of Chattanooga attracted national attention after achieving citywide gigabit-speed coverage. Funded in part by federal stimulus dollars, the rollout led to a documented $1.3 billion economic impact over a 10-year span, according to research by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Another successful example is the Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II auctions, where private ISPs received federal support to extend service into high-cost rural areas. In return, providers had to meet strict buildout criteria. By 2022, recipients like Windstream and Frontier hit over 95% of their required deployment marks, as reported by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Why the Model Works—And How It Scales Broadband Deployment

Together, these elements form a repeatable model. With each successful project, state and local agencies refine their grant programs, while companies like Brightspeed adapt operational frameworks for faster deployment. This feedback loop not only expands access but tightens the timeline between funding approval and live connectivity.

Federal and State Broadband Funding Programs Fueling Brightspeed's Growth

Brightspeed's broadband expansion in North Carolina draws strength from a complex network of government support mechanisms, particularly those designed to bridge connectivity gaps in underserved regions. These funding programs operate at both the federal and state level, offering targeted financial assistance to accelerate infrastructure deployment. Brightspeed has positioned itself to take full advantage of these opportunities by aligning its expansion strategy with eligibility requirements, performance benchmarks, and future scalability expectations laid out by the funding bodies.

Key Federal Programs Supporting Rural Broadband

From Washington, several broadband funding initiatives contribute directly to statewide connectivity goals. Among the most influential:

State-Level Investment Through the GREAT Grant Program

At the state level, North Carolina’s signature initiative, the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant Program, plays a central role in boosting private broadband investment. Administered by the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT), the GREAT Grant program distributed over $356 million since its inception, with the latest round in 2023 awarding nearly $80 million.

Brightspeed has been a direct beneficiary of these awards. In July 2023, the company received several new GREAT grants totaling over $10 million, aimed at extending fiber-to-the-premises service to more than 10,000 locations across multiple counties, including Randolph, Chatham, and Rowan. These grants cover up to 80% of deployment costs in high-priority areas, allowing Brightspeed to accelerate construction and scale operations with reduced financial risk.

Brightspeed’s Funding Strategy in North Carolina

Maximizing public investment requires more than just meeting eligibility. Brightspeed integrates program stipulations into their network planning—matching local government outreach with geospatial data to identify target build zones that align with funding maps. By leveraging federal safeguards like the RDOF performance testing and NTIA quarterly reporting requirements, the company ensures compliance while minimizing overhead.

Simultaneously, Brightspeed maintains an active presence in stakeholder briefings and state advisory panels, shaping future funding frameworks to accommodate evolving needs in last-mile infrastructure. This dual approach—compliance aligned with advocacy—enables the company to remain agile in a competitive grants landscape.

Narrowing the Gap: Tackling North Carolina’s Digital Divide with Brightspeed

Understanding the Divide

The digital divide in North Carolina mirrors a national pattern—rural and low-income communities persistently trail in broadband access. According to the Federal Communications Commission’s 2021 Broadband Deployment Report, approximately 17% of rural residents in North Carolina lack access to fixed high-speed internet, compared to just 1% of residents in urban areas. This discrepancy affects everything from remote learning and telehealth access to economic mobility.

The recent broadband grants awarded to Brightspeed directly target these disconnected pockets. As the company expands its fiber-optic footprint, the aim is not just connectivity—it’s equity. These efforts prioritize counties underrepresented in digital infrastructure, from the foothills of the Appalachians to the coastal plains.

Accessibility Through Funding

State and federal funds channeled through the North Carolina Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant Program are a lever for real change. These grants offset deployment costs in high-need areas where private investment alone would fall short due to low population density or logistical challenges. Brightspeed’s grant-funded buildouts are engineered to cover entire neighborhoods currently served by DSL, copper, or nothing at all.

The result? Households gain access to symmetrical internet speeds upwards of 1 Gbps—far beyond FCC’s broadband benchmark of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. Beyond numbers, this accessibility translates into practical outcomes: students can join virtual classrooms without lag, farms can manage connected equipment, and seniors can schedule video visits with physicians without driving for hours.

Local Voices, Real Impact

Each of these examples underscores an undeniable truth: broadband infrastructure reshapes lives when accessibility moves from aspiration to implementation. And through a coordinated blend of grant funding, engineering, and local collaboration, Brightspeed is laying the groundwork for lasting digital equity across North Carolina.

Fiber-Optic Network Construction and Benefits

Engineering the Backbone: How Fiber-Optic Networks Are Built

Fiber-optic network construction begins with strategic route planning based on population density, terrain, and existing infrastructure. Engineers use GIS (Geographic Information Systems) data to map the most efficient paths. Once planning is finalized, directional boring or trenching methods create underground pathways, minimizing surface disruption and enhancing cable protection.

Technicians then install conduit systems to house the fiber cables, followed by precision placement of fiber strands, made of ultra-thin glass or plastic capable of transmitting data via light signals. Fusion splicing connects individual fiber segments, securing low signal loss and minimal latency. After installation, construction teams test signal integrity end-to-end using Optical Time Domain Reflectometers (OTDR) to ensure consistency across the network.

Fiber vs. Traditional Broadband: A Performance Leap

Sparking Innovation Across Communities and Industries

With its ultra-fast, low-latency architecture, fiber-optic connectivity removes longstanding technological bottlenecks. In healthcare, fiber enables reliable transmission of high-resolution medical imagery and supports remote surgeries through robotic systems in rural clinics. Within education, it powers cloud-based learning platforms and interactive VR classrooms. Agriculture integrates IoT-based crop management systems reliant on high-throughput data links to improve yields.

In the commercial sector, entrepreneurs launch bandwidth-intensive startups with confidence, from AI-driven platforms to video production studios. For government, fiber networks strengthen infrastructure monitoring, emergency services, and civic data transparency. As more regions in North Carolina connect through Brightspeed’s buildout, fiber lays the digital foundation for scale, automation, and next-gen innovation.

Driving Regional Growth: How Brightspeed's Broadband Expansion Transforms North Carolina's Economy

Job Creation at Every Stage

Brightspeed’s broadband buildout in North Carolina will inject new momentum into local labor markets. During the initial construction phase, regional contractors will see a direct increase in demand for skilled fiber-optic technicians, heavy equipment operators, civil engineers, and logistics coordinators. According to the Fiber Broadband Association, deploying fiber infrastructure generates about 15 direct and indirect jobs per $1 million invested. Considering Brightspeed’s multi-million-dollar footprint, thousands of temporary and permanent jobs will emerge across counties receiving service.

Once the network becomes operational, long-term employment benefits extend into maintenance, customer service, IT management, and local support sectors. Growth in broadband adoption also catalyzes demand in remote work, online education, and digital services—each representing industries that can anchor sustainable employment opportunities beyond traditional sectors.

New Opportunities for Small and Medium Businesses

Reliable high-speed internet acts as more than just a utility; it's a growth engine. Entrepreneurs in previously underserved areas will gain access to markets, tools, and platforms needed to scale. Businesses in sectors like manufacturing, telehealth, logistics, and agri-tech can now implement cloud-based solutions, attract talent to rural settings, and operate competitively with urban counterparts.

According to data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, counties with expanded broadband access experienced a 6.4% increase in business establishments within five years. This forecast aligns with the projected impact of Brightspeed in regions across North Carolina where infrastructure upgrades are planned.

Sparking Long-Term Economic Resilience

The new broadband corridors powered by Brightspeed lay the foundation for digital equity and sustained economic growth. Over time, regions with widely available gigabit-speed internet experience population stabilization as remote workers relocate into areas with lower costs of living. School systems gain better tools for hybrid instruction, rural health clinics expand care via telemedicine, and local governments improve service delivery and responsiveness.

Looking ahead, anchored broadband infrastructure means more than just access—it fuels innovation. Regions investing in digital capability today position themselves for future investments, ranging from tech startups to fulfillment centers. These are long-term plays that build not only resilience but economic independence at the community level.

Focusing on Underserved Areas

Historically neglected regions, particularly those in Tier 1 counties, stand to benefit disproportionately. Brightspeed’s focus on these areas aligns with the state’s broader digital equity goals. When these communities gain high-speed access, the regional economic gap narrows, creating shared prosperity across social and geographic lines.

Brightspeed’s Broadband Momentum Signals a Future of Opportunity

Brightspeed’s successful acquisition of additional broadband grants in North Carolina marks a decisive step toward reshaping digital infrastructure across the state. These funds will accelerate the rollout of high-speed internet in underserved areas, amplifying the ongoing transformation already underway in rural communities.

With each dollar allocated, towns long overlooked gain a tangible path to connect—improving everything from remote learning to modern healthcare delivery. Advances in connectivity will elevate business competitiveness, attract telecommuters, and lay the groundwork for full participation in a digital economy.

By channeling public funding into scalable fiber-optic networks, North Carolina strengthens its foundation for inclusive growth. This movement does more than bridge the digital divide—it opens corridors for innovation, inclusion, and sustained economic development.

What could this expanded access to high-speed internet mean to your community—or your business?