The Digital Divide The Digital Divide Closing North Carolina's Digital Divide Achieving Digital Equity Is Within Our Reach Gov. Roy Cooper proposes investing $1.2 billion in federal American Rescue Plan funds in these key pillars necessary to close the digital gap: infrastructure and access, affordability, and digital literacy. By investing in these key pillars, we can achieve digital equity for all North Carolinians. North Carolina's Digital Divide What Is the Digital Divide? Who Is Affected by the Digital Divide? Closing the Digital Divide Achieving Digital Equity Gov. Cooper's Plan Measuring Success Infrastructure Affordability Digital Literacy Gov. Cooper's Plan Too many North Carolinians are on the wrong side of the digital divide because they lack access to an internet connection, cannot afford an internet subscription or do not have an adequate device. Many also lack the skills to take advantage of digital services like telehealth, online education or use online job boards. Gov. Roy Cooper proposes investing $1.2 billion in federal American Rescue Plan funds in these key pillars necessary to close the gap: Infrastructure and access Affordability Digital literacy Focusing investment in these areas can achieve digital equity in North Carolina. Funds would be allocated over four years: Amount Purpose $600 million To rapidly build crucial infrastructure in unserved areas to give internet speeds of 100/20 Mbps to 98% of households and 50/10 Mbps to 100% of households (with the ability to handle future speeds of 100/100 Mbps). $420 million To promote federal programs for affordable internet and continue subscription support once federal funding ends. $165 million To give 365,000 households the devices, repair support and digital literacy and skills training to participate in the digital economy. An additional $15 million would cover administrative and operational costs to supplement existing state administrative capacity to support high-speed internet efforts. The plan also will require significant private investment. Measuring Success By 2025, North Carolina can become a national leader, ranking in the top 5 states for high-speed internet adoption. As North Carolinians in every corner of the state can get, afford and use high-speed internet, they can take advantage of job, education and health opportunities. That can drive the state's economy. This vision is possible by achieving three goals: Raising the percentage of North Carolina households with high-speed internet subscriptions from 73% to 80%. Raising the percentage of North Carolina households with children with high-speed internet subscriptions from 81% to 100%. Increasing adoption rates to 80% across racial subgroups: Native American (currently 57%) Black: (currently 64%) Latinx: (currently 68%) White: (currently 76%) Infrastructure Infrastructure is a major challenge, affecting both rural and urban areas in North Carolina. By investing $600 million, North Carolina can rapidly build crucial infrastructure in unserved areas to give internet speeds of 100/20 Mbps to 98% of households and 50/10 Mbps to 100% of households (with the ability to handle future speeds of 100/100 Mbps). The plan also leverages approximately $920 million in private and federal funding for a total of $1.5 billion. American Rescue Plan funding would be allocated as described below. Allocation Amount FY22 FY23-25 GREAT 2.0 Grant Program $350 million $90 million $260 million Upgrades and expands existing last-mile grant program to invest in future-proof technologies and connectivity speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps. Provides competitive grants for high-speed fiber connections, wherever feasible, supplemented by fixed wireless and satellite options where fiber is infeasible due to cost or geographic features. Relies on comprehensive mapping fabric and cost-modeling to use state resources more efficiently. Incentivizes internet provider low-cost offerings to address affordability barriers facing more than 1 million households. Competitive Bidding $150 million $40 million $110 million Targets additional state investment through competitive bidding process to address additional underserved geographies with comparatively high density and ease of build-out where the state can more easily use existing infrastructure and attract public-private partnerships. Provides a way for county governments to leverage federal funds to deploy infrastructure in support of public-private partnerships, sub-lease, or sell to internet service providers. Stop Gap Solutions $100 million $50 million $50 million Provides targeted grants to address local infrastructure needs and connect underserved households with children and/or elderly (65+) not likely to get fiber for 3-4 years. Includes funding to address tower deployments, support upgrades to state property in support of private, fixed wireless deployment, pole replacements in support of major broadband projects, as well as devices for underserved households. Solutions would be deployed in the interim period between planning and project completion to connect high-need areas. Affordability Affordability is a barrier to low-income households. By investing $420 million, North Carolina can promote federal programs for affordable internet and continue subscription support once federal funding ends. Funding would be allocated as described below. Allocation Amount FY22 FY23-25 Subsidies $420 million $45 million $375 million Provides 380,000 individuals a $50-per-month subsidy for four years, leveraging $45 million in COVID-19 stimulus funds and other grant programs followed by $375 million over next three years. Funds awareness campaigns Digital Literacy Having broadband access does not mean being able to use it. By investing $165 million, the state can improve awareness and enable more North Carolinians to realize the benefits of high-speed internet through programs aimed at accessing the digital economy (e.g., education, job seeking, telehealth). Funding would be allocated as described below. Allocation Amount FY22 FY23-25 Device Support $40 million $40 million - Grant funding for a computer for 96,000 households that lack devices. Break-Fix Services $30 million $7.5 million $22.5 million Grant funding to provide repair services and replacement for 275,000 devices for low-income North Carolinians. Awareness and Digital Literacy $95 million $24 million $71 million Grants funding for broad-based awareness campaign with targeted community-based efforts and digital literacy offerings. Aspects of the Digital Divide Affordable Service Devices Digital Literacy Homework Gap Public Libraries Telehealth
The Digital Divide The Digital Divide Closing North Carolina's Digital Divide Achieving Digital Equity Is Within Our Reach Gov. Roy Cooper proposes investing $1.2 billion in federal American Rescue Plan funds in these key pillars necessary to close the digital gap: infrastructure and access, affordability, and digital literacy. By investing in these key pillars, we can achieve digital equity for all North Carolinians. North Carolina's Digital Divide What Is the Digital Divide? Who Is Affected by the Digital Divide? Closing the Digital Divide Achieving Digital Equity Gov. Cooper's Plan Measuring Success Infrastructure Affordability Digital Literacy Gov. Cooper's Plan Too many North Carolinians are on the wrong side of the digital divide because they lack access to an internet connection, cannot afford an internet subscription or do not have an adequate device. Many also lack the skills to take advantage of digital services like telehealth, online education or use online job boards. Gov. Roy Cooper proposes investing $1.2 billion in federal American Rescue Plan funds in these key pillars necessary to close the gap: Infrastructure and access Affordability Digital literacy Focusing investment in these areas can achieve digital equity in North Carolina. Funds would be allocated over four years: Amount Purpose $600 million To rapidly build crucial infrastructure in unserved areas to give internet speeds of 100/20 Mbps to 98% of households and 50/10 Mbps to 100% of households (with the ability to handle future speeds of 100/100 Mbps). $420 million To promote federal programs for affordable internet and continue subscription support once federal funding ends. $165 million To give 365,000 households the devices, repair support and digital literacy and skills training to participate in the digital economy. An additional $15 million would cover administrative and operational costs to supplement existing state administrative capacity to support high-speed internet efforts. The plan also will require significant private investment. Measuring Success By 2025, North Carolina can become a national leader, ranking in the top 5 states for high-speed internet adoption. As North Carolinians in every corner of the state can get, afford and use high-speed internet, they can take advantage of job, education and health opportunities. That can drive the state's economy. This vision is possible by achieving three goals: Raising the percentage of North Carolina households with high-speed internet subscriptions from 73% to 80%. Raising the percentage of North Carolina households with children with high-speed internet subscriptions from 81% to 100%. Increasing adoption rates to 80% across racial subgroups: Native American (currently 57%) Black: (currently 64%) Latinx: (currently 68%) White: (currently 76%) Infrastructure Infrastructure is a major challenge, affecting both rural and urban areas in North Carolina. By investing $600 million, North Carolina can rapidly build crucial infrastructure in unserved areas to give internet speeds of 100/20 Mbps to 98% of households and 50/10 Mbps to 100% of households (with the ability to handle future speeds of 100/100 Mbps). The plan also leverages approximately $920 million in private and federal funding for a total of $1.5 billion. American Rescue Plan funding would be allocated as described below. Allocation Amount FY22 FY23-25 GREAT 2.0 Grant Program $350 million $90 million $260 million Upgrades and expands existing last-mile grant program to invest in future-proof technologies and connectivity speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps. Provides competitive grants for high-speed fiber connections, wherever feasible, supplemented by fixed wireless and satellite options where fiber is infeasible due to cost or geographic features. Relies on comprehensive mapping fabric and cost-modeling to use state resources more efficiently. Incentivizes internet provider low-cost offerings to address affordability barriers facing more than 1 million households. Competitive Bidding $150 million $40 million $110 million Targets additional state investment through competitive bidding process to address additional underserved geographies with comparatively high density and ease of build-out where the state can more easily use existing infrastructure and attract public-private partnerships. Provides a way for county governments to leverage federal funds to deploy infrastructure in support of public-private partnerships, sub-lease, or sell to internet service providers. Stop Gap Solutions $100 million $50 million $50 million Provides targeted grants to address local infrastructure needs and connect underserved households with children and/or elderly (65+) not likely to get fiber for 3-4 years. Includes funding to address tower deployments, support upgrades to state property in support of private, fixed wireless deployment, pole replacements in support of major broadband projects, as well as devices for underserved households. Solutions would be deployed in the interim period between planning and project completion to connect high-need areas. Affordability Affordability is a barrier to low-income households. By investing $420 million, North Carolina can promote federal programs for affordable internet and continue subscription support once federal funding ends. Funding would be allocated as described below. Allocation Amount FY22 FY23-25 Subsidies $420 million $45 million $375 million Provides 380,000 individuals a $50-per-month subsidy for four years, leveraging $45 million in COVID-19 stimulus funds and other grant programs followed by $375 million over next three years. Funds awareness campaigns Digital Literacy Having broadband access does not mean being able to use it. By investing $165 million, the state can improve awareness and enable more North Carolinians to realize the benefits of high-speed internet through programs aimed at accessing the digital economy (e.g., education, job seeking, telehealth). Funding would be allocated as described below. Allocation Amount FY22 FY23-25 Device Support $40 million $40 million - Grant funding for a computer for 96,000 households that lack devices. Break-Fix Services $30 million $7.5 million $22.5 million Grant funding to provide repair services and replacement for 275,000 devices for low-income North Carolinians. Awareness and Digital Literacy $95 million $24 million $71 million Grants funding for broad-based awareness campaign with targeted community-based efforts and digital literacy offerings. Aspects of the Digital Divide Affordable Service Devices Digital Literacy Homework Gap Public Libraries Telehealth
