North Carolina -- March 24, 2026: Governor Josh Stein has announced nearly $26 million in awards through the state’s Stop-Gap Solutions program. This initiative is set to connect 5,161 rural North Carolina homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions across 66 counties to high-speed internet infrastructure by the end of 2026.
The program, administered by the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity, utilizes federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. It is specifically designed to target "last-mile" extensions—small pockets of unserved and underserved locations that are often overlooked by larger infrastructure projects.
Bridging the Digital Divide
The Stop-Gap Solutions program complements existing state efforts like the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grant and the Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program. While those programs focus on larger-scale deployments, Stop-Gap focuses on precision, reaching hard-to-access areas to ensure total coverage.
“These broadband projects will ensure more families can soon access telehealth, students can complete their homework, businesses can compete in larger markets, and communities can thrive,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I am committed to improving broadband access across the state and making sure no community is left behind.”
Key Providers and Projects
Several broadband providers have been selected to execute these targeted line extensions. Notable awards include:
Citizens Telephone Company/Comporium Communications: $4,017,302 to serve 344 locations in Transylvania County.
North State Communications/Lumos: $3,965,221 to serve 402 locations in Orange County.
LREMC Technologies/RIVR Tech: $3,812,781 to serve 43 locations in Hoke, Robeson, and Scotland counties.
Frontier Communications: $3,524,952 to serve 147 locations in Buncombe, Durham, and Macon counties.
Roanoke Connect Holdings/Fybe: $2,406,500 to serve 826 locations across Bertie, Chowan, Gates, Granville, Halifax, Hertford, Martin, and Northampton counties.
Connect Holding II/Brightspeed: $1,677,000 to serve 2,439 locations across more than 30 counties, including Alamance, Caldwell, and Johnston.
Holistic Digital Opportunity
Beyond physical infrastructure, the state is investing in "digital inclusion." NCDIT has awarded nearly $50 million to various organizations to provide over 40,000 computers and digital skills training to more than 66,000 North Carolinians. This ensures that once the high-speed fiber is in the ground, residents have the tools and knowledge to use it for education, work, and healthcare.
Teena Piccione, NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer, emphasized that high-speed internet is the foundation for modern public safety and economic growth. The Stop-Gap program allows the state to move with "urgency and precision" to complete these connections by the December 31, 2026, federal spending deadline.