Sampson County households are among those that will benefit from nearly $26 million in awards through the state’s Stop-Gap Solutions program that will connect 5,161 rural North Carolina homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions in 66 counties to high-speed internet infrastructure by the end of the year, the governor’s office announced Monday.
Local broadband providers Star Communications and Connect Holding II, LLC/Brightspeed will each receive funding through the program to increase broadband access in rural Sampson County. Star is set to get $443,155 for 78 locations throughout Sampson and Bladen counties. Brightspeed is set to receive $1.677 million for households in numerous counties, including Sampson.
“These broadband projects will ensure more families can soon access telehealth, students can complete their homework, businesses can compete in larger markets, and communities can thrive,” Gov. Josh Stein said via press release. “I am committed to improving broadband access across the state and making sure no community is left behind.”
The Stop-Gap Solutions program, administered by the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity with federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, is designed to accelerate the expansion of high-speed internet infrastructure to eligible unserved and underserved households, businesses, community anchor institutions, and state facilities across North Carolina. The program addresses coverage gaps in internet access by funding targeted broadband line extensions to reach individuals and small pockets of homes and businesses in hard-to-reach areas. The program complements other statewide deployment efforts and ensures that smaller clusters of unserved and underserved locations are not overlooked.
“High-speed internet access is the foundation for health care delivery, public safety operations, workforce development, and economic growth in our state,” said Teena Piccione, NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer. “This program allows us to move with urgency and precision to connect more North Carolinians.”