Brightspeed, a leading fiber broadband provider committed to enhancing connectivity across the nation, has announced a significant boost in its efforts to bridge the digital divide in North Carolina. The company has secured $22.5 million in funding from the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s Division of Broadband and Digital Equity’s Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program. This investment will support the expansion of Brightspeed’s state-of-the-art fiber broadband network to an additional 10,000 locations across Beaufort, Chatham, Jones, Pamlico, Pasquotank, and Pitt counties.
Steve Brewer, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Brightspeed, emphasized the impact of this funding on local communities, stating, “We are making a substantial investment to bring reliable high-speed internet to areas in North Carolina that have historically lacked adequate connectivity. Already, over 170,000 families and businesses in North Carolina benefit from Brightspeed Fiber Internet, and with this grant, we are poised to extend our reach further, providing faster and more reliable internet options.”
The CAB program, designed to foster collaboration between counties, the state, and internet service providers, has been instrumental in accelerating broadband expansion projects across North Carolina. Jim Weaver, NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer, underscored the program’s significance, noting, “Brightspeed’s commitment to closing the digital divide aligns perfectly with our mission to ensure all residents have access to essential online services. This partnership exemplifies the power of public-private collaboration in driving meaningful change.”
Since its inception, Brightspeed has received nearly $131 million through the CAB program and Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants, facilitating connectivity for approximately 70,000 households and businesses across 38 counties in North Carolina alone. With a $2 billion investment plan spanning 20 states, Brightspeed aims to deploy cutting-edge fiber-optic technology, reaching over three million homes and businesses nationwide.
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Brightspeed operates with a vision to create a more connected future through its advanced fiber network. Employing over 4,000 professionals, the company remains dedicated to delivering seamless broadband and telecommunications services that empower communities.
