FCC Announces Nationwide Broadband Funding Initiative Results with 17,583 Eligible Locations in NC-03 Counties

Greenville, N.C. – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently announced that more than 5.2 million unserved American homes and businesses in rural areas will be receiving high-speed broadband internet over 10 years as a result of the FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction. There are 17,583 eligible locations in counties that lie in the Third Congressional District of North Carolina with contracts valued at $18,393,956.70.

Providers must meet buildout benchmarks that will require them to reach their assigned locations by the end of the sixth year. The contracts are designed to incentivize installation as quickly as possible.

Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03) released the following statement:

"For years, people in rural eastern North Carolina have not had sufficient internet access. The COVID-19 pandemic has shed an even brighter light on the lack of broadband internet service in our area. Children who don't have access to internet at home have lost almost an entire year's worth of education due to this crisis. The time to fix this issue is long overdue. I thank the FCC for coordinating this auction and making these funds available for families in rural communities across the country," said Murphy.