Currituck County residents should be aware that crews are installing broadband infrastructure along some county roads in front of or near their homes. Contractors working for Brightspeed have begun installing underground Internet fiber to offer high-speed Internet service to underserved areas of the county.
The State of North Carolina allows public agencies and utility companies the right to work in front of a resident’s yard, provided the work stays within the public right-of-way. The public right-of-way may be used for the placement of utilities such as water, sewer, gas, power, drainage, telephone and cable. Work crews are instructed to clean and restore installation sites, thought this may take some time. Residents with concerns over work being done in front of their homes for this project may contact Brightspeed for assistance.
Brightspeed received grants from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) to install and provide broadband Internet access for communities in North Carolina, including Currituck County. These awards include a $4 million grant to provide Internet access to 2,314 households and 116 businesses. A second grant of approximately $2 million will provide access for an additional 1,307 homes and 47 businesses. More information about these grants may be found at www.ncbroadband.gov.
The NCDIT Broadband Infrastructure Office provides an online map of grant awards and areas to be served by new installation. This map can be accessed here.
