FOCUS Broadband Awarded Two Completing Access to Broadband Awards to Serve Additional Addresses in Chowan and Perquimans Counties
Shallotte, NC – The North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s Division of Broadband and Digital Equity (NCDIT) has announced that FOCUS Broadband is a recipient of two Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program awards. The $5.4 million in awarded CAB funding will allow FOCUS Broadband to extend their fiber optic network in both Chowan and Perquimans counties, bringing high-speed internet to an additional 800 rural homes and businesses.
“FOCUS Broadband is grateful to be awarded funding in this latest round of CAB awards as it allows us to build on the work we are already doing in these two counties,” said Keith Holden, FOCUS Broadband CEO. “This funding is essential to bringing high-speed internet access to the remaining underserved areas in Chowan and Perquimans counties. We would like to thank the NCDIT for their ongoing efforts to help close the digital divide in rural North Carolina, as well as the county managers and commissioners in both Chowan and Perquimans, who have been instrumental in securing funding to bring high-speed internet to their county’s residents.”
Of the total funding, $1.9 million will be used to expand high-speed internet service to over 300 addresses in Chowan County, with $3.4 million of the funds being utilized to bring high-speed internet service to an additional 588 addresses in Perquimans County. FOCUS Broadband will contribute approximately $1 million to the projects, with Chowan and Perquimans counties providing a combined $338,806 in additional funding.
Since 2022, FOCUS Broadband has been awarded over $15 million through the NCDIT’s Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant program to construct a fiber optic network capable of providing gigabit-speed internet in rural communities of both Chowan and Perquimans counties. Construction is currently underway on both GREAT Grant projects, with service now available in the first phases in both counties.
In the official announcement, the NCDIT shared that the $67 million awarded in CAB program funds will connect 15,835 households and businesses across 15 North Carolina counties to high-speed internet. These CAB program awards add to the more than $356 million in GREAT grants and previous CAB funding awarded in 2022 and 2023 that are set to connect more than 140,000 North Carolina homes and businesses to high-speed internet by the NCDIT.
“Through these awards, more North Carolinians will be able to access affordable and reliable high-speed internet so they can participate in our increasingly digital world,” said Governor Roy Cooper in a released statement. “I appreciate the partnership among NCDIT, county leaders and broadband providers in helping close our state’s digital divide.”
To stay up to date on the progress of the grant projects, as well as to see a complete map of where FOCUS Broadband service will be available in both Chowan and Perquimans counties, please visit either www.fasterchowan.com or www.fasterperquimans.com. Those interested can also call 888-367-2862 to speak with a representative.
“FOCUS Broadband is grateful to be awarded funding in this latest round of CAB awards as it allows us to build on the work we are already doing in these two counties,” said Keith Holden, FOCUS Broadband CEO. “This funding is essential to bringing high-speed internet access to the remaining underserved areas in Chowan and Perquimans counties. We would like to thank the NCDIT for their ongoing efforts to help close the digital divide in rural North Carolina, as well as the county managers and commissioners in both Chowan and Perquimans, who have been instrumental in securing funding to bring high-speed internet to their county’s residents.”
Of the total funding, $1.9 million will be used to expand high-speed internet service to over 300 addresses in Chowan County, with $3.4 million of the funds being utilized to bring high-speed internet service to an additional 588 addresses in Perquimans County. FOCUS Broadband will contribute approximately $1 million to the projects, with Chowan and Perquimans counties providing a combined $338,806 in additional funding.
Since 2022, FOCUS Broadband has been awarded over $15 million through the NCDIT’s Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant program to construct a fiber optic network capable of providing gigabit-speed internet in rural communities of both Chowan and Perquimans counties. Construction is currently underway on both GREAT Grant projects, with service now available in the first phases in both counties.
In the official announcement, the NCDIT shared that the $67 million awarded in CAB program funds will connect 15,835 households and businesses across 15 North Carolina counties to high-speed internet. These CAB program awards add to the more than $356 million in GREAT grants and previous CAB funding awarded in 2022 and 2023 that are set to connect more than 140,000 North Carolina homes and businesses to high-speed internet by the NCDIT.
“Through these awards, more North Carolinians will be able to access affordable and reliable high-speed internet so they can participate in our increasingly digital world,” said Governor Roy Cooper in a released statement. “I appreciate the partnership among NCDIT, county leaders and broadband providers in helping close our state’s digital divide.”
To stay up to date on the progress of the grant projects, as well as to see a complete map of where FOCUS Broadband service will be available in both Chowan and Perquimans counties, please visit either www.fasterchowan.com or www.fasterperquimans.com. Those interested can also call 888-367-2862 to speak with a representative.
