GREAT Program Launches in Jones County
Across the country, teachers assign homework that requires kids to have access to the internet, but an estimated 5 million households with school-age children do not have internet access at home, according to research from the Pew Research Center.
The Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) program works by partnering with internet service providers and electric membership cooperatives to bring affordable broadband service to rural communities in North Carolina. The program funds eligible projects in economically distressed Tier 1 counties. Jones, Lenoir, and Greene are all Tier 1 counties.
The GREAT Grant Program Bill, sponsored by N.C. Senator Harry Brown, will bridge the gap between rural North Carolina’s access to broadband services. On the lawn of the Jones County Courthouse, Brown celebrated the launch of “Eastern Carolina Broadband and Jones County: GREAT Grant Program”.
Nearly $10 million has been awarded to 20 broadband service providers to facilitate the deployment of broadband service in 19 Tier 1 counties. The funds are matched with private funds totaling more than $6 million.
Susan G. Myers, the CEO of Eastern Carolina Broadband shared that they should be able to serve 700 homes and businesses. Eastern Carolina Broadband will build out the infrastructure over the next three months and plan to start connecting customers in May 2020. Myers stated that it may take 18 to 24 months to reach all customers.
The goal is for all North Carolinians to have access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet service, and this is a critical step in ensuring that Jones County can participate, grow and compete in our increasingly-digital 21st-century society said Jeff Sural, director of the Broadband Infrastructure Office.
“From students that need access to do homework and complete school projects, to those choosing to work from home, this means a lot,” said Jones County Manager Franky Howard.
The N.C. General Assembly approved, and Gov. Cooper signed, legislation providing an additional $30 million for grants through June 2021 to continue the program.
“Senator Brown has been amazing for rural communities. He will be missed,” said Representative Pat McElraft. Senator Brown is not seeking re-election after his term ends.
