Amplifying Investments
In March 2023, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) partnered with the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT), the North Carolina Farm Bureau, and the Lincoln County Public Library System (LCPLS) to host an in-person roundtable with U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, NTIA Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson, and six unserved North Carolina residents. This crucial opportunity for Commerce Leadership to receive authentic small-group feedback inspired confidence among the participants that they will receive an affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet connection at their homes and businesses through NTIA programs. Following the roundtable, Secretary Raimondo toured two fiber plants in Hickory with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
Tribal Consultations
The State of North Carolina hosted its mandated Tribal Consultation with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (Eastern Band) in May 2023. Representatives from the state, Tribe, and NTIA left the session with a strong trilateral partnership and a clear understanding of next steps. The Eastern Band’s leaders will be key advisors for NCDIT’s Internet for All strategy and will inform the state whether they are interested in participating in North Carolina’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity grant programs.
Listening Tours
NCDIT held a series of over 20 listening sessions across the state’s “prosperity zones,” as defined by the North Carolina General Assembly. Through a variety of presentations, surveys, and conversations big and small, NCDIT completed the sessions with a comprehensive digital equity asset map and a strong understanding of where Internet-related needs remain highest. NTIA’s North Carolina Federal Program Officer (FPO), with the help of Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG) staff, attended a number of these sessions in person to meet with unserved and underserved constituents, provide technical assistance to potential subgrantees, and support the state’s outreach efforts more broadly.
Local Coordination
In May 2023, NTIA and NCDIT hosted a local coordination event for the BEAD and Digital Equity Programs, in partnership with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners and the North Carolina League of Municipalities. OICG Associate Administrator Doug Kinkoph keynoted the event, then spent the afternoon meeting one-on-one with county leaders to better understand their constituents’ broadband needs. More than 100 attendees provided input that equipped the state to write the BEAD Five-Year Action Plan that was quickly approved by NTIA, which has put the state on track to reach 100 percent connectivity.
Technology Careers
Through an NTIA Connecting Minority Communities (CMC) Pilot Program grant awarded in October 2022, North Carolina Central University partnered with female-led nonprofit Momentum Learn to spearhead a free, 24-week digital literacy education initiative that prepares Durham adults for careers in the tech industry — specifically in software development. The program is free thanks to the CMC award. It received over 400 applications in two weeks and qualified 60 students for admission, though it could only admit 20 due to funding and capacity constraints. However, this extraordinary demand inspired Momentum Learn to expand their program. They will now be seeking additional funding and are poised to become a state and nationwide model for how digital equity can be put into practice.
Industry Engagement
In March 2023, CommScope announced a $60 million investment to expand fiber-optic cable production focused on rural applications in Hickory, North Carolina. This investment will spur the creation of at least 250 jobs over the next five years, 90 percent of which will not require a college degree.