Sarah Najim
sarahnagem@borderbelt.org
Tens of thousands of people in rural southeastern North Carolina will lose access to a federal program that helps pay for internet service.
Affordable connectivity plans allow qualifying residents to save up to $30 per month on their internet bills. But the program for low-income families is set to end in May unless Congress agrees to extend funding.
Data shows more than 900,000 families in North Carolina participate in the program. That includes about 41,000 people in Bladen, Columbus, Robeson and Scotland counties.
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Robertson has the ninth-highest number of registered households in the state, with about 22,500.
“The beginning of the phase-out of ACP is definitely going to be an issue across North Carolina, but especially in rural North Carolina,” said Michael Kelly, director of collaborative broadband and innovation at the North Carolina Rural Center.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, with schools closed and many companies shifting to remote work, the importance of high-speed internet has become even more apparent. State and federal governments have invested millions of dollars to expand broadband access in North Carolina.
But advocates say access means little if families can’t afford monthly internet service.
The FCC began providing subsidies in late 2020 as part of the pandemic relief package passed by Congress. The following year, lawmakers approved more than $14 billion to extend the program. Another extension has bipartisan support but Congress has yet to act.
“Affordable and reliable broadband connectivity is necessary for the long-term success of eastern North Carolina. It’s critical for kids in schools, workers and communities,” said Democratic Rep. Don Day, who serves many Northeastern counties. Don Davis said in a statement released by the Problem Solvers Caucus last month. “Three parties continue to express strong interest in the Affordable Connectivity Plan and the need to preserve it.”
Internet access has improved significantly in border areas over the past few years. Data show that by 2021, about 45% of Robeson County residents will have access to fiber optic internet, up from 35% in 2017. In Columbus County, that number jumped from 27% to 53%.
But data shows the region still lags behind most states in connectivity. In Bladen County, about 74% of residents will have access to internet speeds of at least 100 megabytes per second by 2021, compared with about 96% statewide. In Scotland County, less than 1% of residents will have access to broadband in 2021.
Jody Heustess, vice president of marketing and sales for FOCUS Broadband, said the pandemic has accelerated the expansion of high-speed internet. FOCUS Broadband serves approximately 68,000 customers in several counties in eastern North Carolina. He said a wave of federal and state grants has allowed FOCUS to expand into new areas, including Robeson County, where 1,200 households have signed up for internet service.
“Our goal is to work to provide fast, affordable internet to those who don’t have it,” Hustles said. “That’s why we’ve grown through grants over the last four or five years.”
“People who have been waiting for 25 years to get fast, reliable internet are signing up,” he added.
Heustess said that despite the increase in subscriber numbers, only about 3% of FOCUS customers are participating in the Affordable Connect plan. Although FOCUS promotes the program on social media and in local schools, many customers may not be aware of the program, he said.
Donna Bullard, CEO of Star Communications, which serves about 21,000 customers in Sampson and Bladen counties, said many customers are concerned about the end of the Affordable Connectivity program. “They don’t know if they’ll be able to continue providing services.”
Bullard said if the program ends, internet providers may have to consider new ways to ease the financial burden on their customers. But the cost of laying fiber continues to increase, she said, adding that Star pays about $40,000 per mile.
Another FCC program, Lifeline, offers discounts of up to $9.25 per month to eligible low-income residents who subscribe to certain phone or broadband services. Heustess said FOCUS matches the discounts so customers can enjoy high-speed internet for less than $10 per month.
Kelly said high-speed internet plays a vital role in community economic development and the health of residents.
“We in rural centers view broadband as a very important utility,” he said, “just like water or wastewater.”
