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Josh Stein Advances Digital Equity with High-Speed Internet Awards in 26 North Carolina Counties

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein has announced a sweeping initiative to expand high-speed internet infrastructure across 26 counties, targeting communities that have long faced connectivity challenges. Funded by the American Rescue Plan, this investment accelerates efforts to close the digital divide and deliver reliable broadband access to underserved areas.

These awards aim to transform daily life for countless North Carolinians — unlocking access to online education, remote work, healthcare services, and economic opportunities that hinge on dependable internet connections. By directing federal relief dollars toward broadband expansion, the state moves closer to equitable digital inclusion for both rural and historically marginalized regions.

Unlocking Potential: The Driving Force Behind High-Speed Internet

High-speed internet access underpins a wide range of modern necessities, from workforce participation to education and healthcare. Communities without it face structural barriers that limit opportunity and dampen growth. When internet speeds lag, entire regions fall behind. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this disparity turned from inconvenience into crisis.

Remote work became the norm almost overnight, exposing serious connectivity deficits in rural and underserved areas. While some households pivoted quickly to home offices, others lost jobs or income simply due to network limitations. This divide wasn’t theoretical—it translated into real economic loss.

Students, too, felt the effects. Online learning requires stable video conferencing, fast content upload, and synchronous instruction. In counties with poor bandwidth, students struggled to attend virtual classes, complete assignments, or connect with teachers. School systems scrambled to provide Wi-Fi-enabled buses or direct hotspot subsidies—temporary fixes for a longer-term deficiency.

As healthcare systems expanded telemedicine offerings, patients in low-bandwidth zones were often left out. High-speed connections are non-negotiable for virtual consultations, remote monitoring tools, and real-time data sharing between patients and providers. Where broadband faltered, so did access to care.

For small businesses, e-commerce redefined viability during periods of physical distancing. However, operating an online storefront, managing logistics, and communicating with customers demands more than just a signal—it depends on fast, reliable infrastructure. Slow connections translate into missed orders and diminished competitiveness. Meanwhile, entrepreneurs in well-connected counties reached new markets and customers online, deepening the economic gap.

Beyond daily use cases, reliable high-speed broadband also acts as a lever for economic development. Through expanded digital access, counties open doors to new industries, retain skilled workers, and attract innovation-driven investment. This is not speculative. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) found in a 2022 report that broadband expansion in rural areas correlates directly with job growth, wage increases, and higher property values.

Investments in connectivity are not just about plugging into the internet—they are about plugging communities into the future.

Mapping the Impact: A Closer Look at North Carolina’s Broadband Expansion Projects

Widening the Reach Across 26 Counties

The latest round of broadband infrastructure investment spans 26 North Carolina counties, drawing a strategic grid of high-speed connectivity across both rural and underserved regions. From the Appalachian foothills to the coastal plains, these projects aim to shrink the digital divide with targeted, measurable upgrades.

State and Federal Dollars Powering the Initiative

More than $80 million has been committed through a combination of federal funding from the American Rescue Plan and state-level grants provided under the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) program. This coordinated financial strategy ensures resources reach communities with the highest need and the lowest access.

Breaking Down the Numbers

This scale of distribution—both geographical and demographic—ensures a balanced impact across the state’s diverse landscape. Whether revitalizing rural farm roads or reinforcing suburban corridors, these projects are built to close the gap between location and opportunity.

Partners in Progress: Public-Private Collaboration

Private Providers: Building the Backbone of Connectivity

Telecommunications companies play a defining role in translating state vision into real-world access. In North Carolina’s latest broadband initiative, internet providers have been tasked with deploying last-mile infrastructure and ensuring that high-speed services reach underserved households and businesses. Spectrum Southeast, Brightspeed, AT&T, and Wilkes Communications are among those that secured performance-based grants to expand fiber networks in both rural and suburban areas.

These providers are not only laying cable—they're anchoring service standards to 100/100 Mbps or higher and agreeing to milestone-driven reporting, ensuring fiscal accountability. Their investments, matched in many cases by private capital, significantly stretch public dollars without compromising buildout speed or quality.

Government Alignment: State and Federal Synergy

The North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s Division of Broadband and Digital Equity administers the Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program in tandem with county governments, using funds from the Capital Projects Fund authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Through this alignment, state officials synchronize eligibility criteria, project timelines, and equity metrics with federal digital inclusion goals.

This horizontal and vertical coordination eliminates project redundancies and streamlines approval cycles. It also ensures that infrastructure builds serve long-term state planning, including readiness for future funding rounds from the BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) program under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

County-Level Triumphs: Real-World Collaboration

In Cabarrus County, Brightspeed partnered with local leadership to extend high-speed fiber services to over 1,500 previously unserved addresses. Meanwhile, in Pasquotank County, Wilkes Communications collaborated with regional tech alliances to secure match funding and co-locate service hubs within existing public assets, reducing deployment time by 22%.

These examples underscore how customized partnerships meet localized needs while conforming to broader policy frameworks. Counties retain control over tailoring broadband targets to demographic landscapes, while providers contribute logistical expertise and scalability.

Accountability Through Performance Metrics

Grant recipients were selected through a competitive application process that emphasized track record, financial viability, technical plans, and commitment to universal service. Milestones are contractually bound, and disbursements follow work verification, not projections. Through this model, both public and private entities are held to quantifiable deliverables—including minimum speeds, number of addressable units, and completion deadlines.

Additionally, broadband performance data will be independently verified through speed testing and consumer feedback, further reinforcing transparency while creating benchmarks for future funding rounds.

Driving Economic Growth Through High-Speed Connectivity

Empowering Businesses with Digital Infrastructure

Reliable high-speed internet unlocks the full potential of digital tools for small and medium-sized enterprises across North Carolina. With access to cloud-based services, video conferencing, e-commerce platforms, and automation systems, local businesses can streamline operations and tap into broader markets beyond county lines.

In regions that previously lacked reliable broadband, new connections have led to measurable gains. For instance, in a broadband expansion case in Caldwell County, local manufacturing firms reported a 25% reduction in downtime thanks to remote monitoring and maintenance tools made possible by faster connectivity.

Job Creation Through Infrastructure Deployment

Rolling out broadband across 26 counties doesn’t just connect homes—it activates a local workforce. Hundreds of jobs in construction, engineering, surveying, and system maintenance are created during the infrastructure phase. Telecommunication technicians, fiber optic installers, and network engineers become central players in these county-wide upgrades.

Boosting Property Values and Attracting Residents

Broadband access has a direct impact on real estate values. A 2020 study by the University of Colorado and Carnegie Mellon found that homes in broadband-enabled areas sell for 3.1% more on average. In rural regions of North Carolina, this translates into thousands of dollars in additional home equity for property owners.

Counties with expanded access have also experienced increased inquiries from remote workers and families seeking homes with strong digital infrastructure. This migration injects new income and demand into rural economies.

Proven Results from Past Broadband Expansions

Robeson County provides a clear precedent. After the county’s broadband initiative in 2018, local IT support businesses saw a 40% uptick in contracts from schools and healthcare providers switching to digital systems. Similarly, in Cleveland County, a cluster of home-based entrepreneurs reported a doubling of online sales within a year of service upgrades.

These cases illustrate how connectivity triggers economic momentum, not only by modernizing local commerce but also by illuminating new pathways for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Fueling Educational Progress Through Broadband Expansion

Reliable Internet Access for Every Student

In the 26 counties receiving broadband infrastructure support through the Stein awards, schools in underserved areas stand to gain transformative benefits. Consistent, high-speed internet will eliminate a major barrier that has long limited learning opportunity for rural students who lack home connectivity. With full internet access, students can complete homework assignments, join collaborative projects, and tap into digital learning platforms just like their urban peers.

Strengthening Virtual Learning Post-Pandemic

The COVID-19 crisis exposed vast disparities in remote learning readiness. As schools pivoted online, students in many rural districts were left behind not due to lack of effort, but infrastructure. High-speed internet proliferation under these grants enables local education systems to institutionalize virtual learning for continuity, not contingency.

Districts will be able to:

Empowering Educators with Digital Integration

Reliable internet is not only a student need—it scales teaching potential as well. Teachers with assured connectivity can access professional development programs, integrate advanced learning platforms, and deliver individualized instruction with real-time analytics.

How differently might a rural high school approach blended learning now that every household has functional service? With this level of digital access, schools stop adapting around limitations and start designing education for 21st-century readiness.

Expanding Access: Promoting Digital Equity and Inclusion

The 26-county initiative championed by Attorney General Josh Stein targets more than infrastructure—it tackles the human dimensions of connectivity. With a clear focus on digital equity, the funded projects prioritize both availability and affordability in communities that have historically been overlooked.

Reaching Underserved and Unserved Communities

These investments specifically target regions where internet penetration lags behind state and national averages. Residents in rural townships, low-density mountain communities, and disconnected piedmont areas will gain access to high-speed bandwidth capable of supporting modern digital needs. By focusing deployment in these counties, North Carolina moves closer to closing persistent gaps in digital access.

Lowering Barriers: Affordability and Access

Availability alone doesn’t ensure adoption. Affordability remains a key barrier, particularly for low-income households. Through grant-mandated pricing requirements and partnerships with service providers offering tiered pricing models, these broadband expansions include entry-level options that accommodate limited incomes without sacrificing reliability or speed.

Building Skills: Digital Literacy and Training Programs

Alongside physical infrastructure, the initiative includes funding allocations for community-based digital literacy programs. Local nonprofits, libraries, and workforce development boards will deliver hands-on training tailored to users unfamiliar with common online tools. These sessions cover essential skills—such as job application processes, telehealth access, and safe internet usage—ensuring new users aren’t just connected, but empowered.

Supporting Vulnerable Populations

Several projects incorporate specialized components to meet the unique needs of vulnerable groups:

These targeted efforts ensure that high-speed internet becomes a tool for empowerment across all demographics—not just a technological upgrade.

Spotlight: Counties Benefiting from the Awards

The expansion of high-speed internet under the latest round of funding awarded by Attorney General Josh Stein is reaching into every corner of the state. A total of 26 counties are now poised to gain or upgrade broadband infrastructure through swift implementation of strategic projects.

Counties Receiving High-Speed Internet Project Funding

Case Study: Robeson County

Robeson County, one of the most rural and economically distressed regions in North Carolina, faces connectivity gaps that hinder educational achievement and remote employment potential. With this funding, approximately 2,400 households will gain access to fiber-optic internet—capable of gigabit speeds and symmetrical upload/download performance. Local officials describe the change as transformational.

“This is not just about faster internet,” said Robeson County Commissioner Pauline Campbell. “It’s about giving our children the ability to learn at home, helping farmers access market tools, and allowing our families to compete economically.”

Case Study: Alleghany County

In the Blue Ridge foothills, Alleghany County has struggled for years with topographical challenges that made traditional broadband expansion costly and logistically difficult. Recent partnerships with regional ISPs and this award funding now make high-speed service possible for over 1,100 previously unserved homes.

Blue Ridge Micro, Inc., one of the participating providers, said, “We’ve waited for the right moment to make investment viable. This grant pushed the project over the finish line.”

Case Study: Pitt County

Pitt County’s mix of urban centers and agricultural areas reflects broader statewide needs. While Greenville has widespread access, surrounding towns like Grifton and Chicod have fallen behind. The awarded funds will connect nearly 3,000 homes, enabling better digital access for students in the Pitt County Schools system and streamlining healthcare delivery through telehealth initiatives.

“Parents shouldn’t have to drive their kids to library parking lots for homework,” said Pitt County Schools Superintendent Dr. Ethan Lenker. “This changes the reality for hundreds of families.”

Each of these counties illustrates different obstacles—terrain, population density, and economic volatility—yet all are aligned in the drive to bridge the broadband gap through targeted investment and timely execution.

Looking Ahead: Sustaining the Momentum for Broadband Expansion

Strategic Fit Within North Carolina’s Long-Term Digital Agenda

The 26-county broadband expansion initiative aligns directly with the state’s Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grant program and the overarching Statewide Digital Equity Plan. With $1 billion in funding through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, state leaders are tying current projects to longer-term infrastructure blueprints. These include not only connectivity but also affordability, device access, and digital literacy.

Emerging Demand for Continued Infrastructure Investment

Rural and underserved communities across North Carolina still face significant connectivity gaps. While fiber-to-the-home solutions now reach thousands more households, the state's Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) estimates that at least 1.1 million North Carolinians either lack broadband access or affordable service. To close that gap, sustained infrastructure spending over the next five to ten years must prioritize last-mile connections, backhaul upgrades, and hybrid models integrating wireless technologies.

Federal Funding as a Catalyst: Beyond the American Rescue Plan

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) contributed $350 million to date toward broadband deployment in the state. These funds enabled the recent round of GREAT grants, directly supporting projects awarded by Attorney General Josh Stein. Future progress depends on leveraging additional sources like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which allocates another $65 billion nationwide for broadband—with North Carolina projected to receive over $900 million from various provisions.

Ongoing collaboration with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will shape how funds are disbursed and how service quality benchmarks are enforced. High benchmarks—such as symmetrical speeds and low latency requirements—are already pushing ISPs to adopt next-generation technologies.

Innovation Driving the Next Phase of Connectivity

Telecommunication providers in North Carolina are already testing and deploying advances like XGS-PON symmetric gigabit fiber, low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite solutions in mountainous terrain, and fixed wireless access using Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum for remote communities. These technologies will increasingly define broadband standards in areas previously written off as impractical to serve.

What does this mean for residents and businesses? Reliable, fast internet is becoming the default, not the exception—even in the state’s most rural zip codes.

Stein’s Broadband Push: A Direct Route Toward Connectivity for All

Josh Stein’s broadband awards are transforming internet access across 26 North Carolina counties. These investments aren’t incremental tweaks; they are sweeping, structural upgrades to digital connectivity—moving families, classrooms, and small businesses from offline to fully engaged in the digital economy. Areas long sidelined by broadband gaps are gaining more than just speed; they’re gaining access to opportunity.

But money alone doesn’t bridge the digital divide—it takes local momentum. County leaders, school districts, nonprofits, parents, entrepreneurs—every voice matters in shaping a broadband future that’s equitable and efficient. Communities that raise their hands for planning forums, map their unserved areas, and coordinate with ISPs stand to gain the most from this injection of infrastructure funding.

Engagement doesn’t stop at implementation. Digital equity demands ongoing vigilance. Who’s connecting? Who’s being left behind? Where are speeds underperforming, and where are new builds delayed? Keeping this momentum requires public pressure, legislative focus, and real-time data on access, adoption, and affordability.

Taking action today makes a tangible difference. Why not start now?

Connectivity now determines who participates in the economy. With these awards, North Carolina has drawn a clear line in the sand: digital exclusion is no longer an option. The road ahead is wired—and wide open.