WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be awarding $24.9 million to North Carolina to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet. This network will benefit 2,674 people, 84 businesses, 117 farms, and four educational facilities in Bladen, Columbus, and Sampson Counties.
All funding comes directly from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Senator Tillis helped negotiate, write, and pass into law. Tillis also played a key role in drafting the broadband provisions in the bill, which resulted in the largest investment to expand access to high-speed internet in the nation’s history.
The announcement is in addition to the $1.53 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law awarded to North Carolina in June for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which will be used by the to expand access to high-speed internet through planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption programs.
“I’m proud to have worked on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that will deliver more than $24.9 million to expand access to high-speed internet in Bladen, Columbus, and Sampson Counties,” said Senator Tillis. “This critical investment will help bridge the digital divide for North Carolina’s rural communities and deploy the resources that families need and deserve.”
Almost $25M in federal pork-barrel spending, on something the private sector can do faster, cheaper, and more efficiently. Am I the only True Conservative left in JoCo who is fed up with the ever-expanding federal budget and its ever-expanding reach into, what should be the private sector? Each time the federal government expands, it takes a bit more of our freedom. Tillis spends our money faster than a SOCIALIST. #VoteOutIncumbents
No, you’re not the only one!
I can say most certainly, after working for an ISP, that the company’s would not of put the infrastructure in place without this investment. There was no profit to be made. Private sector should not be incharge of healthcare or infrastructure. The only way they can keep profit up is to lower spending, by cutting services or not expanding, or up the cost to customers.
@Fedup: This sounds suspiciously like state ownership and nationalization of specific industries, aka SOCIALISIM. No thank you! Here in the USA, we prefer capitalism and promote free market conditions. If you want Socialism, go to Eurpoe.