Brightspeed has started working to connect thousands of homes and businesses in eastern North Carolina to its high-speed fiber network.
The company currently has 35,000 internet connections planned for service in Jacksonville, according to Brightspeed staff.
The internet connections come after the April announcement that Brightspeed was awarded $31.2 million to expand its fiber network in North Carolina, including in Onslow County.
The funding comes from the Completing Access to Broadband program, will be matched by Brightspeed with $13 million of its own investment to reach more than 18,000 locations in 20 counties across the state. Residents and businesses in Onslow, Jones and Carteret counties are set to receive service from the funding.
Brightspeed began connecting service to customers in Jacksonville and Onslow County in 2024.
Only 40% of people living in North Carolina have access to a fiber internet plan, which means that six out of 10 North Carolina homes and businesses are missing out on the kind of connectivity they need to thrive in today’s economy, according to company representatives and Broadband Now.
Once the full buildout is complete, about 60% of Jacksonville’s population, nearly 43,000 families and small businesses, will have access to Brightspeed’s multi-gig-speed fiber internet service, company officials said.
Residents may have the opportunity to meet with one of Brightspeed’s representatives, who are knocking on doors in Jacksonville to spread the word about the availability of Brightspeed fiber internet in the area.
The N.C. Department of Information Technology’s Completing Access to Broadband program, together with the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology grants awarded to Brightspeed, provide around $218.6 million in funding to help connect nearly 99,000 North Carolina households and businesses across 41 counties to its network.
Between the grants and the company’s own investment, Brightspeed is all-in on bringing its fiber-enabled network to nearly 899,000 locations in N.C., company officials said.
“In today’s fast-paced digital world, both families and businesses rely on high-speed internet to stay competitive and succeed,” said Pamela Sherwood, vice president of Brightspeed Broadband, in April.
“Expanding access to faster, more affordable, reliable and user-friendly internet has never been more crucial, whether for work, education, telemedicine, entertainment, or simply connecting with family and friends. These grant and subsidy programs are essential to help us provide the services families and businesses need to thrive.”