Source: US Rep. Gregory Murphy, M.D. (NC-3rd), 11/22/20


This week, I sent a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin requesting clarification on the ability for the State of North Carolina to use funding from the CARES Act, the main legislative package passed by Congress to fight COVID-19, for rural broadband.

The CARES Act clearly appropriated millions of dollars for the purpose of expanding broadband in the State of North Carolina. There has been precedent of many other states using the CARES Act monies for this specific purpose.

However, the North Carolina State Office of State Budget and Management, under the Roy Cooper Administration, notified North Carolina broadband providers of its intention to divert $30 million of funding initially designated for the state’s rural broadband program. The North Carolina Department of Information Technology is also denying rural broadband providers CARES Act funding.

It is puzzling as to why the Cooper Administration is denying these much-needed funds for North Carolina’s rural broadband. This withholding of funding for service providers disproportionately affects rural areas and low-income families who need internet the most, particularly during a time where school and work are at least partially being conducted online.

Funding from the CARES Act gave North Carolina a great opportunity to improve its rural broadband access, but the Cooper Administration, again for reasons unknown, wants to divert this money for other reasons. I will continue to fight to help rural families get the infrastructure they need to receive access to the internet. 

You can read the full letter by clicking here.