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FREE OR AFFORDABLE BROADBAND SERVICES

In response to the COVID-19 coronavirus, many North Carolina residents are being asked to work and learn remotely. To help be sure they can access high-speed internet, we have compiled a list of new and existing free or affordable service offerings from vendors across the state.

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GREAT Grant Applications Now Open

Discover and Access Geographic Data related to Broadband availability, adoption, and related topics.

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Visit the new broadband map

Discover and Access Geographic Data related to Broadband availability, adoption, and related topics.

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Read the Connecting North Carolina State Broadband Plan

Read The Plan

SUPPORTING STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, FIRST RESPONDERS, & BUSINESSES

HELPING COMMUNITIES DEVELOP AN INTEGRAL PART OF 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE

Broadband is another term for bandwidth, or the amount of data that can be sent through a connection to access high-speed Internet. The more bandwidth, the more information a user can send or receive at any given time. Broadband is an integral part of building a 21st century technology infrastructure that supports students, educators, first responders, and businesses.

Every K – 12 school in the state has high-speed Internet access, and 98% are served by dedicated fiber. Today, North Carolina is adapting to the changing demands of technology by extending Wi-Fi access to classrooms to support digital learning. To complete the recommendations of the North Carolina Digital Learning Plan, BIO will develop a plan to provide Internet access to all underserved homes to facilitate student access beyond the schoolhouse.

STATE BROADBAND PLAN

Develop a guiding document intended to inform policy makers as they create, implement and impact policies on the deployment, adoption and use of digital Infrastructure and broadband enhance economic development, education, public safety and government efficiency

ADOPTION INITIATIVES

Analyze and develop recommendations to incentivize and increase adoption with the idea that if they demand it, it will come

STATE AGENCY COORDINATION

Lead a state multi-agency planning group-NC Broadband Interagency Group (NCBIG) a multi-agency effort to align technology infrastructure goals among the cabinet and other agencies

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Develop and provide a County Index Rating tool to identify areas of need based on infrastructure, adoption rates and community readiness. Research, inform & assist communities through established grant programs, relationships with federal and NGOs or private foundations, & finding or creating grant opportunities for a “last mile” pilot

A NEW APPROACH

COORDINATION & COLLABORATION

We work across state agencies to align coordinate the state’s digital infrastructure resources,
programs & relevant state agencies.

Connecting businesses
Supporting expansion

BroadbandIO aligns NC Broadband, the statewide effort to expand high-speed Internet access, with the FirstNet public safety initiative for improved resource-sharing across state agencies.

The centralized and streamlined Office provides the opportunity to work across agencies and identify infrastructure development needs across North Carolina.

Our mission includes creating the nation’s first giga-state by 2020, expanding broadband access to underserved communities, & supporting digital learning by extending Wi-Fi access to every classroom in the State.

We also provide policy recommendations & guidance to government leaders & key stakeholders to foster digital infrastructure expansion, adoption, & use.

Public Meeting: Governor’s Task Force on Connecting North Carolina

by Kelly Gardner | March 17, 2020 | Broadband Taskforce Meetings | 0 Comments

The next meeting of the Governor's Task Force on Connecting North Carolina is scheduled for: Thursday, March 26, 2020 10:30 a.m. to noon This meeting will be held online through WebEx. View meeting agenda Gov. Roy Cooper established the task force under...

NCDIT Secretary Eric Boyette Announces North Carolina Broadband Indices at IEI Forum

by Wes King | February 10, 2020 | Homework Gap, Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Raleigh, N.C. -- Eric Boyette, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (DIT) and State Chief Information Officer, announced the launch of the new North Carolina Broadband Indices and accompanying visualizations of the data today at the...

Work Gets Underway to Expand High-Speed Internet in Jones County

by Wes King | January 31, 2020 | Grant News | 0 Comments

TRENTON, N.C. The North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Broadband Infrastructure Office (BIO), Eastern Carolina Broadband and Jones County today celebrated the launch of the "Eastern Carolina Broadband and Jones County: GREAT Grant Program,"...

Public Meeting: Governor’s Task Force on Connecting North Carolina

by Kelly Gardner | January 21, 2020 | Broadband Taskforce Meetings | 0 Comments

The next meeting of the Governor's Task Force on Connecting North Carolina is scheduled for: Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 8:45-9:45 a.m. Sampson Community College William C. Aiken Building Room 140 1801 Sunset Ave. Clinton View Meeting Agenda Task Force Recommendations to...

NEWS RELEASE: State Broadband Office Expanded Broadband Access, Worked to Close the Digital Divide in 2019

by Kelly Gardner | January 3, 2020 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

While it may seem that internet is universal, there are still areas of North Carolina that lack the infrastructure, called broadband, to support high-speed internet in addition to residents who lack the technology to use it. This access—to infrastructure and to...

Innovation and Technological Breakthrough

Our state has more than 100 Internet Service Providers including world communications leaders such as Google Fiber, AT&T, Frontier, Time Warner, Century Link

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