Greensboro Reporter

Washington, DC - On June 27, Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-06) celebrated the announcement of North Carolina receiving $1.5 billion in federal funding to expand high-speed internet. This funding is authorized through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Congresswoman Manning helped to pass in the 117th Congress.

“Reliable internet access is a necessity in today’s world – it is vital to ensuring that every American can fully participate in the modern workforce, bolsters education, improves access to health care, and helps Americans stay connected to their loved ones. In North Carolina, over 1 million households lack access to or are unable to afford high-speed internet,” said Congresswoman Manning. “With this federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, North Carolina will make tremendous progress in bridging the digital divide. I was proud to help pass this critical infrastructure package and I’m pleased to see funding from the law support North Carolina families and businesses. Next, I plan to work to ensure that the implementation addresses all the areas in need, and doesn't bypass hard to reach homes, especially in rural areas.”

According to the North Carolina division of Broadband and Digital Equity, 1.1 million households lack access to, cannot afford, or are unable to acquire high-speed internet.

North Carolina is receiving $1,532,999,481.15 in federal funding to improve high-speed internet access statewide.

This funding is allocated through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption programs across the United States. The funding was made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Rep. Manning supported.

North Carolina will have until the end of the year to submit a proposal on how to spend the new funding, and, once the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) gives its approval, a request can be made to access at least 20% of the allocated funds. A five-year plan has already been drafted by the NCDIT’s Division of Broadband and Digital Equity and is available for public comment via email to NCDITpartnerfeedback@nc.gov until Monday, July 17 at 5 p.m.

Original source can be found here.