Governor Josh Stein Announces $26 Million Investment to Close North Carolina’s Rural Digital Divide

North Carolina -- March 24, 2026: Governor Josh Stein has announced nearly $26 million in awards through the state’s Stop-Gap Solutions program. This initiative is set to connect 5,161 rural North Carolina homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions across 66 counties to high-speed internet infrastructure by the end of 2026.The program, administered by the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity, utilizes federal American Rescue