Broadband Coverage

Charter to expand high-speed internet access to 128,000 sites in NC with $442M program
Charter Communications, which offers internet and related services through its Spectrum brand, says it will expand high-speed internet footprint to some 128,000 homes and small businesses where broadband is not available as part of a multi-year $442 million project. That's a big chunk of the some 200,000 households in the state that don't have access to broadband. 

FCC offers subsidies to help families pay for internet
Life without connectivity comes with severe consequences during a pandemic, as work, education and health care increasingly move online. So, the FCC is working to give subsidies to families who can't afford internet service and expand access for those who don't have it.

Net neutrality victory: Federal judge allows California to begin enforcing tough law
A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that California can for the first time enforce its tough net neutrality law, clearing the way for the state to ban internet providers from slowing down or blocking access to websites and applications that don't pay for premium service.

'Solid financial results' says CommScope CEO of latest financials
"We delivered strong results for the fourth quarter despite the continued market uncertainty related to the pandemic,” says Chuck Treadway, CommScope's chief executive officer.

SpaceX launches more Starlink internet satellites but booster rocket fails in return
SpaceX delivered its 19th large batch of Starlink internet satellites into orbit on Monday evening, but in a rare misstep, the first-stage rocket booster used to launch those satellites missed its landing target.

Streaming wars: 'Snyder Cut' of 'Justice League' is huge bet for HBO Max (+ watch the new trailer)
Why would WanerMedia, which is also CNN's parent company, go to the trouble of re-releasing a film from 2017? And not only recut the film, but actually add new scenes to create a big-budget four-hour version of it?

Fiber-optic speed without the fiber: That's goal of Duke, Facebook researchers
Working with Facebook’s Connectivity Lab, a Duke research team has now made a major advance toward the dream of ditching the fiber in fiber optics.

Google Fiber rolls out ultra-fast 2 gigabit internet service in Triangle
As the pandemic continues with more people working at home, children dialing in to school plus familes streaming and playing video games for entertainment, Google Fiber is speeding up its broadband service to help customers deal with more demand for internet access to more devices.

State moves to put $1.6 billion more in federal pandemic money toward schools
Bill also includes money for rental assistance and a second chance at $335 grants for parents.

CBC OPINION
MARY ANN WOLF: Accelerating investment and innovation in education
Monday, Feb. 1, 2021 -- As a state, we are at a critical moment in which we must take great care to deeply understand the immediate and long-term challenges our schools, families, and students face and to develop policies and provide resources and flexibility so they can meet the needs of each of our students.

Internet access, teacher recruitment and student well-being top list of state group's education priorities
Broadband internet access is one of North Carolina's top education issues, according to the Public School Forum of North Carolina's annual list released Thursday.

Internet recovers after massive outage; Verizon acknowledges 'issue' as source
Internet users across the northeast U.S. experienced widespread outages for several hours Tuesday, interrupting work and school because of an unspecified Verizon network issue. Here's an update.

LimeLight: Institute for Emerging Issues secures grants from Corning for broadband initiative
The Institute for Emerging Issues has secured new investment from Corning Incorporated to extend digital inclusion grants to communities across North Carolina. The $10,000 contribution will support BAND-NC, a grant program designed to increase the number of North Carolinians with internet in their homes, with the goal of making the state “first in digital inclusion.” 

Deflated: Googles project to use balloons for internet is shutting down
Loon, the moonshot idea from Google parent Alphabet to provide internet access through huge balloons, is being terminated.

Door open on major state infrastructure bond
Governor reiterates a plan to call for billions in infrastructure borrowing. Senate Republican leader says a bond "may make sense."

Fayetteville soon to be a 'gigabit city' with $70M fiber optic network on the way
Indiana-based MetroNet has announced plans to invest $70 million to bring a new high-speed optic internet, TV and phone network to the Fayetteville region.

Fiber optic internet, services coming to Fayetteville, much of Cumberland County
An Indiana company is going to invest more than $70 million to build a fiber-optic network in Fayeteville and provide broadband internet as well as other services across much of Cumberland County.

In rural NC, students gather at hot spots as state seeks larger broadband fix
Even with 84,000 wireless hot spots distributed, some students rely on paper packets and calls from teachers. Others leave home for parking lots and churches.

Streaming becomes an arms race: Disney, Netflix, others drive up competition - and costs
"Increasingly streaming, in general, is taking a greater share of the consumer's wallet," Bernie McTernan, a senior analyst at Rosenblatt Securities, tells CNN Business. Here's why.