To bridge the digital divide, the North Carolina Department of Information Technology announced it will award Kinetic $4.4 million to bring high-speed fiber internet to unserved areas in two counties.
This grant will enable Kinetic to significantly expand its fiber-optic network in Cabarrus and Union counties by the end of 2026, bringing gigabit internet speeds to 1,392 previously unserved locations.
“This is a monumental step forward in our mission to empower communities across North Carolina with the digital tools necessary for success in today’s connected world,” said Stacy Hale, Kinetic regional president. “As a North Carolinian, I’m proud that Kinetic’s rollout of 125 miles of new fiber to these two counties underscores our commitment to bridging the digital divide, ensuring residents and businesses will no longer be at a digital disadvantage.”
Kinetic will invest $1.9 million of private capital in this fiber-to-the-home project and cover any cost overruns. This is part of Kinetic’s multi-year $2 billion strategy to bridge the digital divide.
North Carolina’s Completing Access to Broadband program, underscored by contributions from the federal American Rescue Plan, local counties, and selected broadband providers like Kinetic, aims to ensure that more North Carolinians can engage in a digital society through affordable and reliable high-speed internet.
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