BEAD and Digital Opportunity Planning

We created a comprehensive strategy to close the digital divide, so all North Carolinians can have access to affordable high-speed internet, digital devices and skills necessary to participate in the modern digital economy. We held a listening tour and implemented other feedback mechanisms to collect input to ensure the state’s comprehensive plans to address high-speed internet access, devices and digital skills meet all N.C. communities' and populations’ needs. 

• May 23 Internet for All in NC Event
• Workforce Development Planning
• BEAD Challenge Process

BEAD Plan Overview

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) plan describes North Carolina’s strategy to expand high-speed Internet access through planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs over the next five years. To develop the plan, we engaged stakeholders through local coordination to improve mapping, inventory existing assets, assess remaining needs, and defining strategies to meet those needs. The BEAD plan incorporates the findings and strategies identified. 

• BEAD Five-Year Plan

BEAD Initial Proposal

The initial proposal provides addresses our plans for the competitive process we intended to use to select subgrantees for broadband projects, ensure workforce development, continue stakeholder engagement, and engage historically underutilized businesses and underrepresented groups in BEAD deployment. These proposals may be updated to comply with the NTIA's BEAD policy restructuring notice. 

• Volume 1 FINAL (Approved by NTIA April 18, 2024)
• Volume II FINAL (Approved by NTIA Sept. 18, 2024)

Digital Opportunity Program Overview 

The Digital Opportunity plan identifies the digital needs and recommend solutions to ensure that all North Carolinians can afford high-speed internet, have the digital devices they need and the skills to use them, and are able to safely engage with online information. The planning process involved significant engagement with individuals, organizations, and communities across the state to ensure that the voices of those who have been excluded from digital opportunity are at the center of this process. The plan is actionable and sets the state’s priorities for the next five years. 

• Digital Opportunity Plan Executive Summary
• Digital Opportunity Resources
• NC Digital Opportunity Gatherings

Webinars

Watch the July 23 Webinar Recording: Update on NC Broadband Funding Programs