RALEIGH — The Institute for Emerging Issues has launched BAND-NC, a grant program designed to increase the number of people with internet in their homes across the state.

BAND-NC stands for building a new digital economy in North Carolina. In total, the initiative will dole out at least $300,000 in grants to communities across the state in partnership with the NC Broadband Infrastructure Office (BIO).

“The global pandemic has made it painfully obvious how critical it is for every family to have access to these services, and communities have been working hard to find emergency fixes,” said IEI director Leslie Boney, in a statement.

BAND-NC

“We hope these grants can help fill some of the final emergency needs, but more importantly we are looking for communities interested in developing long-term solutions. This funding, matched with other support from government and other private investors, can be the start of those solutions.”

The program includes 30 $5,000 “rapid response community innovation grants,” which IEI will award on a rolling basis through the end of August. It includes access to the internet, a device and training to use it.

This fall, grantees will be invited to join technical assistance workshops to build county-wide digital inclusion plans.

A second round of another 30 $5,000 “implementation” grants will become available in 2021.

The ultimate goal: to make North Carolina the “first in digital inclusion.”

Data from the NC Broadband Infrastructure Office shows wide disparities in adoption of broadband services, with both a rural-urban and an income divide. Rural households subscribe at lower rates than urban households (as low as 49.7% in Graham County and as high as 89.7% in Wake County). Households making under $20,000 a year subscribe at a 51.2% rate compared to 93.8% of those making $75,000 or more a year.

“COVID-19 has only increased our awareness that high-speed internet isn’t a luxury – it’s a critical utility,” said MC Belk Pilon, President and Board Chair of the John M. Belk Endowment, which contributed to the initiative.

“By lifting up community-based solutions that provide educators, students, and families with access to broadband, devices, and technical support, we hope to further the efforts already underway in pursuit of digital equity across our state.”

Digital divide persists in NC despite broadband availability; task force seeks to drive up usage