State leaders at odds with Governor over broadband funds
North Carolina General Assembly and the Cooper Administration are at odds over whether the Growing Rural Economies through Access to Technology (GREAT) Program is an eligible use of federal CARES Act money.
“Governor Cooper and legislators strongly support using CRF funds to expand access to broadband but evolving federal guidelines have raised concerns that due to the federal government's end-of-year spending deadline, grants for broadband infrastructure would not be eligible and could risk North Carolina losing access to the funding,” said Ford Porter, Press Secretary for Governor Cooper.
Members of the General Assembly do not agree with this stance.
“I am very disappointed that this decision was not shared until now. Nothing has changed about the guidance in the several weeks that have passed since the money was appropriated. This means internet providers will not receive funds to build out vital infrastructure to expand broadband to rural areas across the state during this critical time,” said NC Senator Jim Perry (R-Lenoir, Wayne).
On Thursday, November 19, 2020 as stated in the press release, Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC 3) sent a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin requesting clarification on the ability for the State of North Carolina to use funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act for rural broadband. Millions of dollars were appropriated for North Carolina to invest in rural broadband under the CARES Act.
“The CARES Act clearly appropriated millions of dollars for the purpose of expanding broadband in the State of North Carolina. There has been precedent of many other states using the CARES Act monies for this specific purpose. It is puzzling as to why the Cooper Administration is denying these much-needed funds for North Carolina’s rural broadband,” said Murphy.
This withholding of funding for service providers disproportionately affects rural areas and low-income families who need internet the most, particularly during a time where school and work are at least partially being conducted online.
“Funding from the CARES Act gave North Carolina a great opportunity to improve its rural broadband access, but the Cooper Administration, again for reasons unknown, wants to divert this money for other reasons. I will continue to fight to help rural families get the infrastructure they need to receive access to the internet,” said Murphy.
