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Governor Stein Champions $58M Broadband Expansion Across 26 North Carolina Counties

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has launched a $58 million initiative to expand high-speed internet access across 26 counties, a strategic investment aimed at closing the digital divide and boosting connectivity for thousands of underserved residents. The funding targets rural and economically distressed areas, including Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Camden, Caswell, Cherokee, Clay, Columbus, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Graham, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Macon, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Robeson, Tyrrell, and Washington counties.

By bringing reliable broadband to schools, homes, and businesses in these regions, this effort will bridge longstanding infrastructure gaps and elevate digital equity across the state. Under Governor Stein’s leadership, North Carolina is making bold moves to transform rural connectivity into a foundation for economic opportunity and educational access. This investment signals a new phase of infrastructure commitment, marrying policy with measurable progress.

Connecting Lives: Bridging North Carolina's Digital Divide

The Role of High-Speed Internet in Everyday Functions

High-speed internet has become as fundamental as electricity or running water. From logging into virtual classrooms to attending telehealth appointments, North Carolinians rely on digital connectivity to fully participate in modern life. Work-from-home opportunities continue to rise — according to the 2023 U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey, roughly 27% of employed adults in North Carolina engaged in remote work at least once a week. That’s not just a trend; it reflects a reshaping of how jobs operate across industries.

Health care, once confined to hospitals and clinics, now lives equally in broadband networks. In rural parts of the state, telehealth allows residents to consult with specialists hundreds of miles away. Education also depends on reliable connectivity: students completing homework, accessing digital resources, or attending remote learning sessions need stable, fast internet. Without reliable broadband, these doors remain closed.

Urban vs Rural Broadband Access in North Carolina

The numbers draw a clear line. The latest Federal Communications Commission (FCC) data shows that over 94% of urban households in North Carolina have access to broadband speeds of at least 100 Mbps. In rural areas, that figure drops to barely 65%. Counties like Hyde, Graham, and Tyrrell continue to experience digital disconnection, with infrastructure barely meeting current connectivity demands. Patchy coverage, lower speeds, and data limitations in these pockets have real consequences — lost opportunities, delayed services, and slowed local progress.

This disparity doesn't just separate cities from countryside—it drives wedges into healthcare access, education equity, and job readiness. It determines which businesses can thrive and which communities can compete in the digital economy. In places where connectivity barely exists, families resort to public Wi-Fi in parking lots for schoolwork or critical correspondence.

The Project's Focus: Reaching the Underserved

Governor Josh Stein’s recent announcement of a $58 million investment specifically aims to reverse those numbers. Under this initiative, 26 counties identified with below-average broadband access are set to receive support for network buildout. These counties include Alexander, Bladen, Duplin, Madison, and others—regions typically left behind in previous connectivity expansions.

Rather than scattershot improvements, the strategy zeroes in on underserved and unserved areas. The funding will facilitate last-mile connections, enabling fiber and fixed wireless systems to reach homes previously outside signal range. That focus ensures rural residents, small-town businesses, and remote learners will receive the same digital opportunities long available in cities like Raleigh and Charlotte.

Broadband Infrastructure Investment: Laying the Groundwork

North Carolina’s $58 million injection into broadband infrastructure, as announced by Governor Stein, launches a highly technical and strategic build-out designed to eliminate long-standing coverage gaps across 26 counties. This investment lays the foundation for high-speed connectivity using a layered approach that integrates fiber-optic networks, wireless towers, and future-ready technologies.

Physical Infrastructure: From Trench to Tower

Extending reliable broadband requires a robust physical framework. Industry-standard fiber-optic cables—capable of transmitting data at speeds exceeding 1 Gbps—form the backbone of the expansion. Contractors will deploy underground and aerial fiber lines across both densely populated and remote terrain, often requiring micro-trenching in urban zones and directional boring in more rugged topographies.

To bridge gaps where fiber is less feasible, the plan includes the installation of new fixed wireless towers. These sites will house microwave transmitters and 5G-ready antennas capable of delivering high-throughput connections to nearby homes and anchor institutions such as schools and health centers.

Technological Tools Powering the Rollout

Beyond cables and towers, the project relies on an array of sophisticated equipment. Core network components will include high-density routers, packet-optical transport systems, and edge computing nodes designed to reduce latency. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) contracted for the expansion will also deploy customer-premise equipment (CPE) such as Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) and high-efficiency Wi-Fi 6 routers to ensure connections can meet bandwidth demands.

Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and AI-driven network planning software are already mapping coverage gaps, calculating cost-per-mile metrics, and optimizing fiber paths. These digital tools boost installation efficiencies and accelerate the project timetable.

Future-Proof by Design

Infrastructure funded under this initiative is not only designed for current needs but also aligned with emerging standards. All backbone networks will use scalable Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology, which supports long-haul, high-capacity transmission. Tower sites will be equipped for 5G deployment, with built-in capacity for smart city integration and Internet of Things (IoT) device support.

The strategy behind this infrastructure is clear: deploy a resilient, scalable platform that won’t require replacement as digital demands grow. Instead, it will evolve through modular upgrades, expanding capabilities with minimal disruption. As statewide coverage expands, this groundwork ensures that North Carolina isn't just catching up—it’s preparing to lead.

Digital Equity and Inclusion: Empowering All Communities

Digital equity means every person—regardless of income, race, geography, ability, or background—has the technology and internet access required to fully participate in society, democracy, and the economy. In the context of North Carolina, this translates directly into stronger job opportunities, improved educational outcomes, and greater access to critical services like healthcare and banking.

Governor Josh Stein’s announcement of a $58 million investment spanning 26 counties targets this very need. These funds address more than infrastructure—they push forward a digital future where every resident has a fair opportunity to thrive online. The selected counties include some of the most underserved in the state, such as Halifax, Robeson, Bertie, and Swain. These regions have faced long-standing broadband deficits, and this initiative will provide an infrastructural foothold they’ve never had before.

Several demographic groups stand to benefit directly:

Improved access to cloud services comes with scaled benefits. In counties such as Greene and Martin, where broadband adoption has lagged behind the state average, new connections will enable households to harness platforms like Google Workspace, AWS, or Microsoft 365 without latency or data limitations. Students can stream instructional content in real time. Jobseekers can join virtual training and submit applications without traveling to public libraries or hotspots.

Digital inclusion also reduces isolation. Residents in remote Appalachian regions often live miles from essential services. With reliable connections, they can now access virtual mental health support, state agency portals, and social networks that bridge geographic divides. The $58 million investment doesn’t just lay fiber—it constructs future access points for education, employment, healthcare, and civic engagement across all of rural North Carolina.

Rural Connectivity: Shaping the Technological Landscape Outside Cities

In rural North Carolina, high-speed internet opens doors that remain shut without it. From modernized classrooms to precision-driven farms, broadband is rewiring how small towns live, work, and grow. The $58 million investment announced by Governor Stein directly addresses long-standing disparities, and the impact will ripple well beyond faster downloads.

Expanding Possibilities in Education, Health, and entrepreneurship

When a student in Ashe County can attend live virtual lectures with stable video, the playing field gets a little more even. Schools across rural counties will integrate cloud-based tools in daily instruction, tapping into remote resources once inaccessible. Healthcare follows close behind.

With stronger internet infrastructure, telemedicine becomes a viable option rather than a last resort. Physicians based in urban hospitals can conduct consultations with patients in places like Stokes or Tyrrell County. Chronic condition management, mental health care, and specialist access all become easier to coordinate, reducing long travel times and wait periods.

Entrepreneurs, too, benefit. Rural business owners leveraging e-commerce platforms can reach customers globally rather than being boxed into local foot traffic. Freelancers and remote workers in towns like Chatham or Mitchell gain access to digital job markets, transforming local economies through dispersed employment models.

Case Snapshot: Spindale, Rutherford County

Spindale, a former textile hub nestled in the foothills, is charting a new course. With fiber-optic internet extensions funded through Governor Stein’s initiative, the town is laying the digital tracks for growth. A local tech incubator, operated in collaboration with Isothermal Community College, is already scouting locations for its satellite office. Local officials report early interest from logistics tech firms and remote-first software companies.

Property values are responding, and small business registrations have ticked upwards for the third consecutive quarter. Infrastructure is no longer the obstacle—it’s the lever.

Rural Data Usage: From Smart Farming to Telehealth

Modern agriculture depends on data more than tractors. Smart farming—using IoT sensors, automated irrigation systems, and drone mapping—requires reliable, low-latency internet. In counties like Duplin and Greene, farms that connect their devices to high-bandwidth broadband can adjust crop inputs in real time, reducing waste and increasing yield predictability.

High-speed internet also enables rural clinics to upload high-resolution imaging data to cloud systems, allowing for accurate remote diagnostics. Without adequate upload speeds, these services stall. With them, rural communities plug directly into larger healthcare networks without the overhead of new hospitals or clinics.

Take a step back. What do these changes mean at scale? They signal a shift in where innovation can live. Not just in Raleigh or Charlotte, but in the fields of Jones County and the libraries of Swain. North Carolina’s digital future won’t be built in one place—it’s taking root county by county.

Shaping a Statewide Vision: Governor Stein’s Leadership on Broadband

A Strategic Governmental Framework for Connectivity

North Carolina’s broadband strategy isn't operating in isolation. State government agencies have played a direct and coordinated role in creating the infrastructure backbone necessary to close digital gaps, particularly in underserved rural and suburban regions. At the center of this effort stands the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT), which steers broadband development through its Division of Broadband and Digital Equity.

Planning efforts unfold with precision. The state conducts detailed county-by-county mapping of broadband needs, aligning infrastructure grants with digital adoption programs. Through initiatives like the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant Program, the state has financed multiple rounds of rural broadband expansion. These programs have not only supported internet access but have also embedded broadband access as a pillar of long-term economic modernization.

Governor Stein’s Blueprint for a Digitally-Connected North Carolina

Governor Josh Stein has positioned digital connectivity as a priority that intersects education, healthcare, commerce, and civic life. The newly announced $58 million investment to expand high-speed internet in 26 counties sharpens the focus: close connectivity gaps and spur grassroots economic development.

This isn't a pivot—it’s a continuation. While serving as Attorney General, Stein backed data privacy protections and championed rural access to digital tools. As governor, his administration has expanded that vision. Under Stein, strategy meetings have brought together telecom stakeholders, local governments, and community organizations to shape localized implementation plans. He has linked broadband rollout directly with economic mobility and digital equality, framing access to high-speed internet as an infrastructure challenge on par with roads and water systems.

Momentum Built on Foundational Policies

North Carolina set the groundwork for this acceleration years earlier. As far back as 2018, early versions of broadband investment legislation, backed by bipartisan support, began carving pathways for stronger state-level involvement. Since then, the state has advanced over $300 million in broadband infrastructure grants, using funds from sources such as the American Rescue Plan and the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund.

The recent $58 million announcement threads directly into this arc of growth and ambition. These state-led efforts continuously evolve as public demand rises and technological requirements deepen.

Broadband Access Sparks Economic Growth Across 26 North Carolina Counties

New Infrastructure, New Opportunities

Modern broadband infrastructure does more than connect homes—it drives regional economies. With Governor Roy Stein’s $58 million broadband expansion across 26 counties, communities previously sidelined from the digital economy now stand on the front lines of growth. High-speed internet enables job creation, supports the incubation of tech startups, and vastly expands the reach of rural labor into remote work markets.

Job Creation and Talent Retention

Reliable broadband brings immediate employment opportunities during infrastructure installation and ongoing network maintenance. According to a 2021 study by the Economic Research Service at the USDA, rural counties with expanded broadband experienced an average 1% rise in employment growth over five years compared to similar counties without access. That growth compounds in digitally intensive sectors such as e-commerce, IT services, and logistics support.

Kristen Allen, Director of Economic Development for Jackson County, sees this investment as transformative: “We can’t recruit high-wage employers if the digital backbone isn’t in place. The new fiber expansion changes our pitch from speculative to strategic.”

Tech Startups and Innovation Clusters

Access to high-speed internet infrastructure lowers the entry barrier for tech entrepreneurs in smaller markets. As digital services decentralize, communities like Warren and Ashe counties can support software development firms, virtual healthcare platforms, and ed-tech ventures without requiring relocation to Charlotte or Raleigh.

Remote Work as an Economic Engine

High-speed connectivity directly enables remote work opportunities, allowing professionals to base themselves in rural communities while engaging in national or global labor markets. The Pew Research Center reported in early 2023 that 35% of workers with access to sufficient internet flexibility now work remotely full-time or in hybrid models. When local infrastructure keeps pace, talent stays home rather than moving to urban centers.

“Access to broadband turns our towns into economic launchpads,” said Alexa Ford, small business advisor in Wilson County. “People don’t leave for jobs—they bring jobs home.”

Ripple Effects: Real Estate, Tourism, and Retail

Homebuyers cite internet availability as a top-three priority behind location and school quality. With this project set to bring gigabit speeds to counties like Bertie and Duplin, the previously sidelined real estate markets now receive fresh interest from both residents and investors.

Tourism also gains from digital reach. Travelers rely on online bookings, digital mapping, and in-region mobile data use. Towns such as Alleghany, with scenic cabins and natural trails, benefit directly from stronger digital visibility. On the retail side, enhanced connectivity elevates point-of-sale systems, inventory tools, and customer engagement for shops operating out of Scotland or Greene counties.

Each faster connection fuels productivity—each productive community strengthens the economy.

Public-Private Partnerships: Collaboration at Work

The $58 million broadband expansion initiative announced by Governor Stein draws strength not only from state and federal investment but also from the strategic partnerships forged with private industry leaders. These collaborations are driving faster implementation, deeper reach into rural regions, and greater overall sustainability of high-speed infrastructure projects in North Carolina.

Shared Responsibility: Government and Private Sector Join Forces

In this broadband push, the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) and the Broadband Infrastructure Office are coordinating with national ISPs and local telecom providers. This shared investment model ensures that public dollars are matched with private capital, resulting in larger buildouts and more efficient deployment timelines.

Tech Giants at the Table: Meta, Microsoft, and Infrastructure Investment

Large-scale technology firms are not sitting idle at the sidelines. Meta’s ongoing investments in North Carolina data centers—most notably the sprawling facility in Forest City—highlight how digital infrastructure demands long-term planning and bandwidth scalability. These complexes require hyperfast fiber infrastructure, and the surrounding communities benefit from the collateral build-out.

Meta partners with North Carolina municipalities not just through construction investments but also through data-sharing, technical enablement, and targeted grants that support STEM education and broadband literacy in adjacent counties. Similarly, Microsoft has been active in collaborative broadband mapping and cloud-integration strategy across education networks in the state.

Why do these tech giants engage? Because as data centers grow in capacity and cloud computing becomes ubiquitous, connectivity isn’t a luxury—it’s the backbone of modern digital economics. Their infrastructure needs align perfectly with community access goals.

These public-private collaborations aren’t abstract policy choices. They’re tangible, on-the-ground coalitions accelerating fiber trenching trucks through rural fields, lighting up towers atop Appalachian ridges, and wiring schools at the end of dirt roads. The model works, and it's reshaping North Carolina county by county.

Unified Political Momentum: Bipartisan Commitment Moves North Carolina Broadband Forward

Broadband expansion in North Carolina doesn’t follow traditional political fault lines. Legislators across party affiliations have steadily backed infrastructure upgrades as a priority for 21st-century governance. This shared objective has led to consistent, cross-aisle cooperation on funding, policy design, and oversight mechanisms tied to broadband development.

Legislators, United by a Digital Agenda

Across both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly, the push to bridge the digital divide has garnered strong bipartisan support. Lawmakers have treated broadband access not as a political platform but as a public utility—a necessity for economic participation, educational access, and modern health care delivery. This consensus has helped insulate broadband initiatives from legislative gridlock, accelerating deployments in underserved areas.

Governor Josh Stein’s $58 million investment announcement is backed by years of legislative groundwork from both Republican and Democratic leaders. In recent sessions, bipartisan caucuses have worked jointly on crafting and passing broadband-specific legislation with wide margins. For example, House Bill 289—passed with overwhelming support—enhanced program eligibility for state broadband grants and amended existing regulations to streamline deployment in rural counties.

Funding Measures with Broad-Based Support

The Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant Program has routinely received bipartisan endorsements during the budgeting process. In fiscal year 2023–2024, the North Carolina General Assembly allocated over $400 million for broadband enhancements, including the $58 million referenced by Governor Stein. These appropriations sailed through both chambers with virtually no opposition, signaling broad political will to continue this trajectory.

From committee rooms to floor votes, North Carolina politicians are setting aside partisan agendas in favor of digital cohesion. Leadership on both sides continues to ensure that broadband remains a non-negotiable priority in long-term infrastructure plans.

Strategic Capital: Directing $58M Toward Underserved North Carolina Communities

Precision Funding Aligned with Community Needs

Governor Josh Stein’s announcement of a $58 million investment targets counties where high-speed internet access is still not a standard utility. This isn’t a blanket allocation. Funds are being distributed through a structured combination of infrastructure grants, matching contributions with local governments, and performance-contingent awards. Each dollar is calibrated to maximize impact in areas historically excluded from digital growth.

Prioritization with Purpose: Criteria that Drive Distribution

The decision matrix for funding disbursement hinges on three core pillars: infrastructure need, geographic disparity, and project readiness. Areas with below-average broadband coverage or outdated delivery systems rise to the top of the list. Counties that show both willingness and capacity to implement quickly—and maintain long-term service—gain competitive advantage under the state’s assessment model.

Fiscal Transparency: Public Oversight and Measurable Reporting

Every awarded grant ties directly to clear performance indicators. The North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) publishes quarterly digital infrastructure reports listing recipient counties, project scopes, disbursement stages, and connectivity milestones. These reports are accessible through the NC Broadband Infrastructure Office portal, ensuring traceability and public accountability.

By linking capital to equity-focused criteria—and openly documenting results—the Stein administration aims to demonstrate that targeted investment can close the broadband gap, not just gradually, but with measurable progress visible across 26 counties.

Powering Progress: Data-Driven Growth and a Digitally United North Carolina

Governor Josh Stein’s $58 million broadband investment marks a definitive step toward a digitally inclusive North Carolina—one where fast, reliable internet stands as infrastructure, not a luxury. This funding initiative targets 26 counties with focused intent: to ensure that access to high-speed internet is no longer dictated by geography, income, or population density.

Every corner of the state, from the Blue Ridge foothills to the eastern farmlands, holds potential that has been constrained by poor digital infrastructure. With this comprehensive expansion plan, fiber-optic cables won’t just run through counties—they’ll deliver real possibilities. Students will stream educational resources without interruption. Entrepreneurs will finally operate businesses from rural hometowns. Hospitals will offer telehealth options seamlessly. This investment doesn’t just close a gap; it redraws the map.

Governor Stein envisions a North Carolina where connectivity equates to opportunity. Each dollar of this plan supports that premise. Backed by data, aligned with both public and private support, and grounded in the needs of underserved communities, this initiative establishes a future-ready blueprint designed for scale and sustainability.