ASHEVILLE, N.C. (August 18, 2022) — Spectrum today announced it has been awarded a North Carolina Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Program grant of $4 million to bring gigabit high-speed internet access to approximately 3,500 homes and small businesses in Polk County. Combined with the state grant of $4 million and a contribution from the County of $250,000, the total project investment, including $7.8 million from Spectrum, is $12 million.
The GREAT grant is one of nine already awarded to Spectrum to expand fiber-optic broadband infrastructure to areas of the state that currently lack access to high-speed connections. The company is awaiting review of 51 additional GREAT proposals that, if awarded, would bring broadband to an additional 71,000 homes and small businesses in 51 counties across North Carolina, which has the second-largest rural population of any state.
“All North Carolina communities, families and businesses need access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. “This round of grants means more North Carolinians will be able to take advantage of opportunities to learn, work, access health care and connect to the world.”
“I’ve served Polk County residents in many capacities and understand how important broadband access is for our families and small businesses,” said state Rep. Jake Johnson. “I’m thrilled the state legislature allocated funding for Polk County to work with Charter to bring high-speed internet to unserved parts of the county.”
Spectrum is already North Carolina’s largest broadband provider, serving 2.8 million customers and employing nearly 11,000 residents in the state.
“Gov. Cooper, his administration and the North Carolina Legislature have shown tremendous leadership in embracing public-private partnerships as a vital strategy for connecting unserved communities,” said Brian Gregory, Vice President of Government Affairs at Charter. “We applaud Polk County officials for contributing to this project to make a meaningful difference for residents.”
“We also commend the legislature and Cooper administration for their support of a $100 million utility pole replacement fund as part of the state’s broadband strategy, which is paying off with significant interest and investment. In all, Spectrum proposed 60 broadband projects across 60 counties and $190 million in investment, thanks to the positive regulatory climate and investment in pole infrastructure,” added Gregory.
“All Polk County residents deserve access to high-speed internet, and the GREAT grants, along with broadband providers like Charter, are making that a reality,” said Polk County Board Chairman Melton.
GREAT Program grants further expand Spectrum’s rural construction initiative, the centerpiece of which is the company’s approximately $5 billion investment in unserved rural communities, which includes more than $1 billion won in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auction. The company’s RDOF expansion will provide broadband access to approximately 1 million customer locations as estimated by the FCC across 24 states — including more than 125,000 locations in North Carolina — in the coming years. Combined, Spectrum’s GREAT Program grant and RDOF buildouts in Polk County will bring broadband access to more than 4,800 homes and small businesses.