North Carolina

North Carolina Directs $26M to Connect Rural Homes by 2026

State targeted hard-to-reach areas left out of larger broadband projects.

Sergio Romero

Apr 1, 2026 — 2 min read

Photo of North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, from the governor’s office.

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2026 – North Carolina awarded nearly $26 million in stop-gap broadband grants to expand high-speed internet access to rural areas, aiming to connect 5,161 homes, businesses, and community institutions across 66 counties by the end of 2026.

“These broadband projects will ensure more families can access telehealth, students can complete their homework, and businesses can compete in larger markets,” Gov. Josh Stein, D, said in a statement.

The funding, announced in March, will support “last mile” broadband projects designed to reach small, hard-to-serve pockets that were not included in larger infrastructure deployments.

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