The N.C. Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity today announced that local and tribal governments, nonprofits and broadband service providers submitted 519 challenges to locations eligible for inclusion in the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. The challenges represent 39,424 homes, businesses and community anchor institutions. The BEAD program launches this year and gives North Carolina $1.53 billion to bring high-speed internet infrastructure to unserved and underserved locations.
The challenge window, open Sept. 3, 2024, to Jan. 8, allowed entities defined by the National Telecommunications and Information Association (NTIA) to provide input to ensure that the BEAD program’s eligible locations map accurately represents the state’s high-speed internet access needs. Individuals could also submit data during that time so eligible challenging organizations could make challenges on their behalf.
“We appreciate these organizations submitting this crucial feedback on behalf of individuals and communities across the state,” said NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Teena Piccione. “This data will help inform decisions on where to focus funding to connect all North Carolinians to reliable high-speed internet.”
The division requested and received an extension for the challenge window from the NTIA due to the Hurricane Helene natural disaster declared in western North Carolina so county partners, internet providers, nonprofit grantees and stakeholders would have adequate time to weigh in on locations without internet access or adequate speeds. This information helps ensure the list of eligible BEAD locations is as accurate as possible as the state plans to connect all North Carolinians to reliable high-speed internet.
Internet service providers can rebut the challenge data until Feb. 20 at 11:59 p.m. The division will complete the BEAD program’s final determination phase Feb. 21 through March 22, and will share the data with the NTIA to finalize the locations that will be eligible for the BEAD program.
For more information about the NCDIT Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity and the BEAD Challenge Process, please visit ncbroadband.gov.