Spectrum today announced it has been awarded a North Carolina Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) Program grant of more than $1.25 million to bring gigabit high-speed internet access to more than 300 homes and small businesses in Haywood County. Combined with the state grant of more than $1.25 million, the total project investment, including more than $500,000 from Spectrum, is nearly $1.8 million.
The CAB grant is one of seven awarded to Spectrum to expand fiber-optic broadband infrastructure to areas of the state that currently lack access to high-speed connections.
“These awards will help ensure that more North Carolinians can access affordable and reliable high-speed internet to participate in today’s digital world,” said North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. “We will continue to collaborate with county leaders and all grantees to close our state’s digital divide.”
Spectrum is already North Carolina’s largest broadband provider, serving 2.8 million customers and employing more than 11,800 residents in the state.
“Gov. Cooper, his administration, and the North Carolina Legislature have shown tremendous leadership in embracing public-private partnerships as a vital strategy for connecting unserved communities,” said Brian Gregory, Vice President of Government Affairs at Charter Communications, which operates the Spectrum brand of connectivity products and services. “Through the CAB grant program, Spectrum joins with state and county partners to bring gigabit broadband and more to thousands of families and small businesses.
“We also commend the Legislature and Cooper Administration for their support of a $100 million utility pole replacement fund as part of the state’s broadband strategy, which is paying off with significant interest and investment — in all, Spectrum proposed 61 broadband projects across 60 counties and $419 million in investment, thanks to the positive regulatory climate and investment in pole infrastructure.”
CAB Program grants further expand Spectrum’s rural construction initiative, the centerpiece of which is the company’s approximately $5 billion investment in unserved rural communities, which includes $1 billion won in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auction. The company’s RDOF expansion will provide broadband access to approximately 1 million customer locations as estimated by the FCC across 24 states — including more than 125,000 locations in North Carolina — in the coming years. Combined, Spectrum’s CAB Program grant and RDOF buildouts in Robeson County will connect more than 5,400 homes and small businesses.
“Living in Haywood County my whole life, we have always had challenges when it comes to technology. Internet for everyone is still not a reality,” said State Representative Mark Pless. “However, this grant being awarded to Spectrum will help many of our neighbors receive internet service. Thank you Spectrum, the General Assembly for providing the funding, and the Division of Information Technologies for selecting Haywood County.”
Along with multiple broadband options, Spectrum services will also include Spectrum Mobile™ and Spectrum TV® in Haywood County.
