through a partnership with Lumos, orange county Done Previously provided broadband internet services to 1,500 companies Underserved rural homes and businesses Since the partnership began in 2022 with a $10 million investment from the county. American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Lumos 100% fiber optic internet and Total home Wi-Fi provider based in high point, won competitive bidding from Derek Kelly said the county has given permission to participate in the partnership. Vice President of Market Development at Lumos.
He said Lumos has focused primarily on the northern part of the county. The number of underserved communities is. The company is now expand your work — it continues Until 2025 — to the south.
SSo far, 3,000 people were previously unserved, he said. Homes and businesses have the opportunity to receive broadband internet. Of these, 1,500 are officially registered.
Outside of areas like Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsboro, Orange County is largely rural; This is why the connectivity issue exists, Derek Kelly said.
“The idea is that public funding can help make rural areas look a little more like more densely populated areas, like suburban areas or small communities.” He said.
derek kelly Lumos saidEngineering work must be done to determine where the network should be placed and built first. In the past nine months, He said they had worked hard to do so. Place the fibers on the ground and in the air. Several He said small businesses in rural areas lack internet connectivity, making them unable to process credit cards or upload large files, and the partnership will provide businesses with the fiber-optic access they need.
michael kelly dDirector of Collaborative Broadband and Innovation for NC Rural Center, He said there can often be barriers to education, telehealth, employment and economic development. If you do not have adequate access to internet access.
“In our rural core, we actually think of broadband as a physical asset, similar to water or wastewater.” He said.
