The N.C. Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Division of Broadband and Digital Equity posted a request for proposals to prequalify internet service providers to participate in multiple broadband expansion programs, beginning immediately with the $400 million Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program. The division collected feedback on the draft request for proposals from broadband stakeholders, including unserved communities across North Carolina and internet providers in May.
“This process will help us move forward quickly with our county partners to expand high-speed internet access to their unserved areas,” said NCDIT Deputy Secretary for Broadband and Digital Equity Nate Denny. “We are working to ensure that all North Carolinians get access to broadband while maintaining strong stewardship of the nearly $1 billion dedicated to this effort.”
The CAB program, funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act, creates a partnership between the division and individual participating counties to foster broadband expansion in North Carolina as part of Governor Roy Cooper’s plan to close the digital divide. Internet service providers awarded a state convenience contract through this process will be eligible to reply to counties’ requests for service expansion in unserved and underserved areas mutually defined by the counties and the division, as well as participate in and receive reimbursement from the upcoming $100 million Broadband Pole Replacement program.
The request for proposals and the accompanying response form are available at www.ncbroadband.gov/documents/broadband-expansion-access-rfp/open and www.ncbroadband.gov/documents/rfp-response-form-broadband-expansion-and-access/open. Vendors may submit proposals via the State of North Carolina Interactive Purchasing System at https://www.ips.state.nc.us/ips/ until 2 p.m. on July 31, 2023.
For more information about the NCDIT Division of Broadband and Digital Equity, the CAB program and Governor Cooper’s plan to close the digital divide in North Carolina, please visit www.ncbroadband.gov.