All tagged broadband
The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today it has awarded $29.9 million to expand broadband in Lenoir County, North Carolina. The award will be used to fund Lenoir County’s Fiber to the Home Expansion project, which will deploy last-mile broadband to Lenoir County. This project will serve 15,256 households across the county.
Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed Aug. 16–20, 2021, as Rural Broadband Week to call attention to the urgent need to improve broadband access and adoption across our state.
Elected officials across the state have reached out for assistance with a Suddenlink problem. Congressman Greg Murphy, MD had a discussion with Suddenlink’s executives to discuss the frustrations experienced by customers in Eastern North Carolina. Kinston’s Mayor Don Hardy sent a letter to the Attorney General’s office. And on Monday the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution supporting efforts to address the issues with Suddenlink.
Nearly $30 million will go to fund 18 broadband infrastructure projects with a goal of connecting 15,965 households and 703 businesses in rural North Carolina to high-speed internet, Governor Cooper announced Thursday. The grants are part of the 2020 Special Supplementary Round of the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant program and will be distributed through the N.C. Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) Broadband Infrastructure Office (BIO).
Senator Jim Perry, along with his colleagues in the legislature, reached a deal with Gov. Roy Cooper to ensure $30 million is allocated as promised to the GREAT rural broadband program.
Legislative leaders and Gov. Roy Cooper reached a deal to ensure $30 million is allocated as promised to the GREAT rural broadband program.
On Sept. 3, a bipartisan supermajority in the North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $30 million for rural broadband to help rural areas impacted by the pandemic. The next day, Gov. Roy Cooper issued a press release, taking credit for our work, with the following statement: “This budget followed my recommendations on school enrollment funding and invested in important areas like high-speed internet access…” Seventy-five days after the legislation passed, and 74 days after Gov. Cooper touted the investment, his administration quietly ripped this money and broadband from the hands of rural North Carolinians.
Rep. Chris Humphrey joins Neuse News Publisher BJ Murphy to discuss today's issues. Rep. Humphrey is running to retain his seat in the NC House. Topics discussed include Voter ID, reopening NC schools, rural broadband internet access, COVID-19's impact on the state budget and more.
During this past legislative session, expanding access to rural broadband and closing the digital divide was a top priority of mine and the Republican-led North Carolina General Assembly. In rural areas, especially in my district in Eastern North Carolina, connection to reliable high-speed internet service is critical to attracting and retaining businesses, improving health care access and ensuring that our children are not left behind in the digital age.
On Monday, April 6, Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03) joined a bipartisan and bicameral group of federal lawmakers in sending a letter urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to include funding for broadband internet in any further legislative response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the past few years, the Internet has moved beyond being simply a resource for leisure activities or research to becoming an essential part of daily life. In 2020, individuals are required to use the internet to look for and apply for jobs, seek educational opportunities, access government services, and do many other essential things that were previously done offline.
