High-Speed Internet to Come for More Households in Buncombe County

More Buncombe County households will get access to high-speed internet thanks to a third installment of grant funding. Governor Roy Cooper recently announced that across North Carolina, an additional 25,825 households and 862 businesses in 33 counties will get high-speed internet thanks to nearly $80 million in additional Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants.

GREAT grant awards are made directly to service providers. In the recent round of funding, internet service provider Skyrunner Inc., was awarded $1.8 million to expand internet service to 500 unserved and underserved households in Buncombe County. While final agreements are still under development, this project will benefit residents in North Turkey Creek, South Turkey Creek, Fairview Forest, Reems Creek, and the Ox Creek area. Buncombe County has provided $500,000 to date in matching American Rescue Act funds. This is the third installment of GREAT grant funding Buncombe County has received, and work is continuing to provide broadband access to as many households as possible.

“Continuing to connect our community with high-speed broadband internet is an infrastructure priority that will provide lasting dividends for Buncombe County residents and businesses,” says Commissioner Terri Wells. “It is wonderful to be able to share the good news with families who have been waiting for years that they are going to have access to this important technology that they can use to pursue their goals and improve their quality of life.”

Background

The GREAT grant program was established in 2018 as part of Governor Roy Cooper’s plan to close the digital divide, and is a competitive program that provides matching grants to internet service providers that may partner with individual North Carolina counties to expand high-speed internet service to unserved areas of the state.

As part of the GREAT grant eligibility requirements, all internet service provider applicants must be participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible low-income households a $30 per month discount on high-speed internet service or provide access to a comparable low-cost program.

Learn more about the ACP and $30 per month reliable, high-speed internet packages offered by internet service providers at getinternet.gov. Having trouble access broadband? Please complete the broadband survey here: https://www.ncbroadband.gov/north-carolina-broadband-survey.