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North Carolina internet service provider Star Telephone Membership Corporation will receive .9 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to connect rural residents, businesses, and farmers in Sampson, Bladen, and Columbus counties to reliable, affordable high-speed internet.

The funding is part of the ReConnect Program grant, which is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It is expected to benefit 2,674 people, 84 businesses, 117 farms, and four educational facilities in the designated counties. In addition to this grant, North Carolina was previously awarded over .5 billion through the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, also under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aimed at funding high-speed internet infrastructure and ensuring digital equity.

Governor Roy Cooper expressed gratitude towards the federal partners for their investment in the state and stated that the additional funding, combined with the BEAD allocation, will help close the digital divide in North Carolina and provide access to high-speed internet for all communities.

To be eligible for ReConnect Program funding, applicants must serve rural areas with no access to service at speeds of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. They must also commit to building facilities capable of providing high-speed internet service with speeds of 100 Mbps to every location in the proposed service area. Awardees will also be required to participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program, which offers discounts for qualifying low-income households and households on qualifying Tribal Lands.

Governor Cooper has been leading efforts in North Carolina to ensure that all residents not only have access to high-speed internet but can also afford it and use it safely. The state has prioritized the expansion of high-speed internet, particularly in underserved areas, including through the allocation of over 0 million in GREAT grants to bring internet access to thousands of households and businesses across the state.

For more information on Governor Cooper’s initiatives to bridge the digital divide in North Carolina, visit ncbroadband.gov.

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