Friends and partners,
As the seasons start to turn here in Western North Carolina, so too does the momentum around broadband expansion. This month brings major updates from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program that will shape the future of connectivity across our region. North Carolina has released its draft BEAD plan, outlining how this federal investment will be prioritized to bring high-speed internet to unserved and underserved households. Last week we offered an office hour to learn more about how this may impact the locations you are thinking about, and our next conversation will be around the issue of affordability.
For communities in the Blue Ridge, this means more than just faster downloads—it’s about ensuring every resident has the tools to learn, work, and thrive in a digital world. Our coalition continues to advocate for fair policies, transparent decision-making, and a strong focus on rural and hard-to-reach areas. We hope that you’ll join us October 7th for our first ever Digital Opportunity Pitch contest. We will be joined by some amazing connectivity leaders like, FCC Commissioner Gomez, Benton’s own Gigi Sohn and Revati Prasad, NDIA’s Amy Huffman, IEI’s Jess Epstein, and most importantly a few of our locals who are doing the boots on the ground work. Register today to pitch your project, watch from the audience, or volunteer!
Warm regards,
Sara Nichols
Blue Ridge Broadband Alliance
In This Edition
Drew’s Policy Corner
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment in Western North Carolina: What You Need to Know
Big Broadband News
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Drew’s Policy Corner
It’s been a busy summer for broadband! The FCC walked back efforts to fund Wi-Fi on school buses and reduce rates for prison phone calls. The Senate began accepting public feedback on the future of the Universal Service Fund. And states across the country, including North Carolina (see article below), are submitting their final BEAD plans.
For BEAD, the big outstanding questions are:
- What kind of broadband networks will BEAD build? To date, states are averaging around 65% fiber, 20% satellite, 13% wireless, and 2% cable. But the variance between states is large—some are over 90% fiber, others under 10%. However, all plans are subject to NTIA approval, and we expect NTIA to require further cost-cutting, likely increasing the role of satellite.
- What can states do with their remaining BEAD funds? States are on track to have a significant portion of their BEAD money left over after funding infrastructure projects (e.g. North Carolina could have over $1b). By law, any money not used on infrastructure can be used for other purposes, such as public Wi-Fi, wiring apartments, and adoption programs. But we expect NTIA will try to claw back or redirect this funding, which will be a big topic of conversation in the coming months.
We’ll share updates as we learn more!
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment in Western North Carolina: What You Need to Know
On August 28, 2025, the North Carolina Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity released the state’s draft Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program Final Proposal for public viewing and comment.
Background
Created in 2021 by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program provides $42.45 billion to help states and U.S. territories bring affordable, high-speed internet to the millions of Americans who currently lack it. In June 2023, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the agency responsible for administering the BEAD Program, announced allocations for each state. North Carolina received the fifth-largest allocation at $1.5 billion.
On June 6, 2025, NTIA, under new Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, announced revised rules for the BEAD Program. The changes are primarily designed to reduce government spending on BEAD. To do this, NTIA has eliminated BEAD’s preference for high-quality fiber infrastructure and reduced the number of eligible locations. The changes also required all states and territories, even those that had already had their Final Proposals approved by NTIA, to conduct a “Benefit of the Bargain” round of bidding and submit new Final Proposals within 90 days, i.e., by September 4, 2025.
NC Final Proposal
If approved by NTIA, North Carolina’s Final Proposal would leverage $408.5 million—just over a quarter of the state’s $1.5 billion BEAD allocation—to connect 93,138 homes and businesses, as well as 374 “community anchor institutions” (CAIs), such as fire stations and police departments. Sixty-eight percent of these locations will get fiber internet service, 30 percent will get service via low-Earth orbit satellite (e.g. Amazon Kuiper or Starlink), and the remaining 2 percent will get cable or fixed-wireless service. To build out these networks, the state would rely on 21 different internet service providers and require that service be made available within the next four years.
Impact on Western North Carolina
Nearly a third of the state’s BEAD locations are in Western North Carolina. Compared to the state as a whole, Western North Carolina has a higher percentage of locations that would be served by fiber—81 percent in WNC compared to 68 percent statewide. The remaining 19 percent would be served by low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite. The average cost per location in WNC is $4,509, which is roughly in line with the state average.
Here is how the state’s plan proposes to bring service to everyone in Western North Carolina.
Avery County
In Avery County, 100 percent of the 81 broadband-servicable locations (BSLs) will be served by LEO. Amazon’s Kuiper received a $48,600 award, bringing the cost per location in the county to $600.
Buncombe County
In Buncombe County, 80 percent (1380) of the 1,744 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 20 percent (364) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $4,471.88.
Burke County
In Burke County, 84 percent (1668) of the 1,982 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 16 percent (314) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $1,819.91.
Cherokee County
In Cherokee County, 54 percent (1081) of the 1,986 BSLs will be served by fiber, while 46 percent (905) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $3,361.66.
Clay County
In Clay County, 100 percent of the 306 BSLs will be served by LEO. Amazon’s Kuiper received a $183,600.00 award, putting the cost per location in the county at $600.
Graham County
In Graham County, 86 percent (2400) of the 2,764 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 14 percent (364) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $2,733.10.
Haywood County
In Haywood County, 63 percent (574) of the 905 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 37 percent (331) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $6245.34.
Henderson County
In Henderson County, 93 percent (3529) of the 3,797 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 7 percent (268) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $4,090.28.
Jackson County
In Jackson County, 92 percent (3229) of the 3,509 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 8 percent (280) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $4,666.02.
Macon County
In Macon County, 93 percent (2433) of the 2,602 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 7 percent (169) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $3,359.18.
Madison County
In Madison County, 100 percent of the 276 BSLs will be served by LEO. Amazon’s Kuiper received a $165,600 award, putting the cost per location in the county at $600.
McDowell County
In McDowell County, 71 percent (943) of the 1,322 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 29 percent (379) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $18,274.73.
Mitchell County
In Mitchell County, 100 percent of the 240 BSLs will be served by LEO. Amazon’s Kuiper received a $144,000 award, putting the cost per location in the county at $600.
Polk County
In Polk County, 100 percent of the 269 BSLs will be served by LEO. Amazon’s Kuiper received a $161,400 award, putting the cost per location in the county at $600.
Rutherford County
In Rutherford County, 95 percent (4862) of the 5,077 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 5 percent (215) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $3,956.43.
Swain County
In Swain County, 67 percent (1008) of the 1,489 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 33 percent (481) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $4,829.34. The fiber provider in Swain County is Cherokee Cablevision, an internet service provider owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and operated by Balsam West.
Transylvania County
In Transylvania County, 94 (953) percent of the 1,009 BSLs will be served by fiber, while the remaining 6 percent (56) will be served by LEO. The average cost per location in the county is $8,693.51.
Yancey County
In Yancey County, 100 percent of the 117 BSLs will be served by LEO. Amazon’s Kuiper received a $70,200 award, putting the cost per location in the county at $600.
By Zoë Walker, with help from Reid Sharkey and Drew Garner
Big Broadband News
Chairman Carr Looks to End E-Rate Support for Wifi | Federal Communications Commission | September 3, 2025
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr asked his Commission colleagues to vote on two items that would reverse the agency’s Biden-era decisions to expand COVID spending programs. Specifically, Chairman Carr circulated for vote a declaratory ruling that would overturn the FCC’s 2023 decision to fund unsupervised Wi-Fi use on school buses. He also circulated an order on reconsideration that would reverse the FCC’s 2024 decision to fund Wi-Fi hotspots that kids or library patrons could use outside of schools and libraries. If adopted, these actions will find that permitting funding for the off-premises use of Wi-Fi hotspots, including on school buses, exceeds the statutory authority provided to the Commission in Section 254 of the Communications Act. In addition, the Universal Service Administrative Company will be directed to deny pending funding year 2025 requests for E-Rate funding for the off-premises use of Wi-Fi hotspots and Wi-Fi on school buses as these services will be determined to be ineligible.
A New Opportunity to Make Your Voice Heard on Universal Service | Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, US Senate | Kevin Taglang | August 4, 2025
The Universal Service Fund Working Group—a bipartisan, bicameral group of Members of Congress—is seeking input from stakeholders across the country to explore the current state of the USF. The Working Group aims to provide a bipartisan forum to guide reforms to the USF, ensuring that connectivity reaches Americans in every community across the nation. The USF Working Group is seeking comments on a variety of questions relating to the effectiveness of USF programs and potential reforms. Stakeholders can file answers to these questions along with any additional comments through the USF Working Group comment portal. Comments are due by September 15, 2025.
Chairman Carr Acts to Address Unintended Consequences of 2024 IPCS Order | Federal Communications Commission | July 1, 2025
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the agency’s Wireline Competition Bureau has taken action to address the consequences stemming from the Commission’s 2024 decision on Incarcerated People’s Communications Services. The order extends the deadlines by which IPCS providers must comply with certain rules adopted in the 2024 IPCS Order until April 1, 2027 or any alternative date the FCC sets as part of further action. The 2024 IPCS Order expanded the Commission’s regulation of IPCS in response to the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act of 2022. The Martha Wright-Reed Act amended the Communications Act of 1934 to require that the Commission “establish a compensation plan to ensure that all [IPCS] providers are fairly compensated, and all rates and charges are just and reasonable, for completed” IPCS communications.
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Governor Stein Announces Executive Order on AI | North Carolina Office of the Governor | September 2, 2025
Spectrum Launches Gigabit Broadband, Mobile, TV and Voice Services in McDowell County, North Carolina | Charter Communications | August 20, 2025