Caldwell to receive expanded high-speed internet access

News-Topic, Lenoir, N.C.
·2 min read

Mar. 25—RALEIGH — Efforts are continuing to bring high-speed internet access to communities across North Carolina, including Caldwell County, according to a press release from N.C. Department of Information Technology.

The N.C. Department of Information Technology's (NCDIT) Division of Broadband and Digital Equity today posted Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program scopes of work to expand high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved homes and businesses in the following counties:

—Beaufort County (approximately 3,100 eligible locations)

—Caldwell County (approximately 1,900 eligible locations)

—Chatham County (approximately 6,500 eligible locations)

Internet service providers that are prequalified to participate in state broadband expansion programs may submit proposals to provide broadband to all or a portion of eligible locations within each county, according to the press release.

This public-private partnership will help achieve Governor Roy Cooper's goal to close the digital divide and ensure more North Carolinians can access affordable and reliable high-speed internet. Funds come from the Biden-Harris administration's American Rescue Plan, according to the press release.

The CAB program creates a partnership among state government, county leaders and internet service providers to fund broadband deployment projects with $400 million from the American Rescue Plan. All CAB projects require matching investments from counties, which will be combined with NCDIT's award and the prequalified service provider's contribution, according to the press release.

Each county's scope of work will be posted for 45 days at ncbroadband.gov/active-cab-proposals and will include the evaluation criteria by which an internet service provider will be chosen and the instructions for submitting proposals. A map of each county's eligible locations is located on the NC OneMap's CAB Planning Tool. During the first 10 days of the posting period, internet service providers may submit protests to identify locations they already serve as described in the CAB Program Guidance, according to the press release.

For more information about the NCDIT Division of Broadband and Digital Equity, visit ncbroadband.gov.