A $13.5 million buildout would connect nearly 3,000 homes and small businesses to gigabit broadband with initial speeds of 300 Mbps
ASHEVILLE, NC – Spectrum announced today that it has received a $4 million grant from the North Carolina Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) program to bring gigabit connectivity to nearly 3,000 homes and small businesses in Rutherford County Provide high speed internet access. Together with the $4 million federal grant and a $1 million contribution from Rutherford County, the total project investment, including more than $8.5 million from Spectrum, is more than $13.5 million U.S. dollar.
“All communities, families and businesses in North Carolina need access to reliable and affordable high-speed Internet,” said North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. “This grant round means more North Carolinians will have opportunities to learn, work, access health care and connect with the world.”
The GREAT grant is one of 20 Spectrum has already received to expand fiber broadband infrastructure to areas of the state that currently lack access to high-speed connectivity. The company is awaiting consideration of 41 additional GREAT proposals that, if awarded, would bring broadband to an additional 57,000 homes and small businesses in 41 counties throughout North Carolina, which has the second-largest rural population of any state.
“I understand how important broadband access is to our families and small businesses,” said State Assemblyman Jake Johnson. “I’m thrilled that the Rutherford County state legislature has allocated funds to work with providers to bring high-speed Internet to underserved parts of the county.”
“Nearly 3,000 homes and businesses will soon have access to high-speed Internet thanks to the state’s GREAT Grant program and Rutherford County’s partnership with broadband provider Spectrum,” said Bryan A. King, Rutherford County Chairman. This is a historic investment for our communities and we stand ready to do our utmost to help close the digital divide.”
Spectrum is already North Carolina’s largest broadband provider, serving 2.8 million customers and employing nearly 11,000 state residents.
“Reg. Cooper, his government and the North Carolina Legislature have shown tremendous leadership in embracing public-private partnerships as a key strategy for connecting unserved communities,” said Brian Gregory, Charter’s vice president of government affairs. “We applaud Rutherford County officials for contributing to this project to make a meaningful difference to residents. We also commend the Legislature and Cooper administration for their support of a $100 million utility pole replacement fund as part of the state’s broadband strategy, which is paying off with significant interest and investments. In total, Spectrum proposed 60 broadband projects in 60 districts and investments of US$190 million thanks to the positive regulatory climate and Pole infrastructure investments.”
The GREAT program grants expand Spectrum’s rural construction initiative, centered on the company’s approximately $5 billion investment in unserved rural communities, including more than $1 billion raised at the auction of the Rural Digital Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Opportunity Fund (RDOF). The company’s RDOF expansion will provide broadband access to approximately 1 million customer locations in the coming years, as estimated by the FCC, in 24 states – including more than 125,000 locations in North Carolina. Combined, Spectrum’s GREAT program grant and RDOF rollouts in Rutherford County will connect more than 8,500 homes and small businesses.
spectrum internet® has been consistently ranked as one of the top Internet Service Providers US News & World Report, and also received the highest rating among the best rural internet service providers, underscoring the continued commitment to connecting more communities from coast to coast. spectrum internet® also surpassed advertised download and upload speeds for all measured tiers—even during peak weekday use between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.—according to the FCC’s latest “Measuring Broadband America Fixed Broadband Report” issued in December 2021.
Broadband speeds of up to 1Gbps, plus money-saving mobile options and 85,000 on-demand options
Spectrum offers customers a premium suite of products highlighted by Spectrum Internet® Plans with speeds up to 1 Gbps for home and small business customers, starting speeds of 300 Mbps, and no modem fees, data caps, or contracts. Spectrum was also a participant on day one of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible families in financial need with high-quality, high-speed Internet service at a low — or even free — cost. All Spectrum Internet plans are eligible for ACP credits.
In addition to multiple broadband options, Spectrum services also include Spectrum TV® and Spectrum Mobile™ in Rutherford County.
Spectrum Mobile, available exclusively to Spectrum Internet customers, combines the fastest overall speeds* with the best devices and a choice of unlimited or by-the-gig data plans. Spectrum Mobile offers customers the highest quality experience, including access to nationwide 5G, at an affordable price (two or more lines starting at $29.99 per month, saving customers up to $1,000 per year**). Spectrum TV offers more than 200 HD channels and access to 85,000 movies and shows on demand. The Spectrum TV App allows viewers to stream content across a growing number of platforms including iOS and Android mobile devices, Xbox One, Kindle Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku and PCs.
* Fastest Overall Speeds claim is based on Global Wireless Solutions combined speed test results for cellular and WiFi speeds in the spectrum service area where WiFi is available. Cellular speeds vary by location.
** Savings based on 2-line comparison of unlimited plans from major national airlines as of 09/2021; Prepaid excluded; Data usage limits vary by provider. Spectrum internet required. Services not available in all areas. restrictions apply.
About Spectrum
Spectrum is a suite of advanced communications services offered by Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR), a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator, serving more than 32 million customers in 41 states. Through an advanced communications network, the company offers a full range of state-of-the-art personal and business services, including Spectrum Internet®TV, mobile phone and language.
For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum Business offers® offers the same suite of broadband products and services coupled with specialized productivity-enhancing features and applications, while Spectrum Enterprise provides larger enterprises and government agencies with highly customized fiber-based solutions. spectrum range® delivers tailor-made advertising and production for the modern media landscape. The company also distributes award-winning news, sports and quality original programming to its customers through Spectrum Networks and Spectrum Originals. For more information about charters, visit corporate.charter.com.
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