Some $45 billion of funding under the infrastructure law will be allotted nationwide to improve access to high-speed internet. North Carolina is due to receive at least $100 million of that funding.
OUR CONDOLENCES AND PRAYERS ARE WITH THEIR FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITIES >> ALL AMERICANS WILL HAVE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET BY 2030. THAT LOFTY GOAL ANNOUNCED TODAY AND THE TRIANGLE BY THE US COMMERCE SECRETARY. IT IS A 45 BILLION DOLLAR IDEA AND WRAL’S DURHAM REPORTER SARAH KRUEGER WAS THERE. SHE JOINS US LIVE NOW FROM THE DURHAM NEWSROOM. SARAH. >> DAVID, I THINK WE CAN ALL APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INTERNET. THIS IS WHERE WE WORK. IT’S WHERE WE DO HOBBIES. SO MANY IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE ORDERING GROCERIES ARE HAVING VIRTUAL DOCTOR VISITS. AND THE IDEA IS THIS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE AND AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE. >> THE CRANDON INSTITUTE IN DURHAM IS ALL ABOUT BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE WITH THINGS LIKE TEACHING CLASSES ON COMPUTER LITERACY, LORI LEWIS SAYS WHAT SHE LEARNED HERE CHANGED HER LIFE IS OPENING DOORS FOR ME AND HELPING ME TO BE ABLE TO TEACH MY BRAND ABOUT COMPETE . IT HELPED HER GET A JOB AND FEEL MORE CONNECTED. THAT’S WHAT STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS WANT TO ACHIEVE FOR EVERYONE. EVERY AMERICAN DESERVES ACCESS TO INTERNET PERIOD. I COULD CRAMMED IN INSTITUTE US COMMERCE SECRETARY GINA RAIMONDO ANNOUNCED 45 BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO ENSURE INTERNET FOR ALL THE INSTITUTE IS THE KIND OF PLACE THAT COULD GET SOME OF THOSE THE MONEY CAN BE USED FOR LAYING CABLE AND ALSO FOR THINGS LIKE GIVING PEOPLE COMPUTERS. IF YOU DON’T, NO, HOW TO DO IT. >> IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO ACCESS IT. IF YOU DON’T HAVE A DEVICE IN CAN’T AFFORD ONE. AND YOU CAN’T BE CONNECTED. >> DATA FROM THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION SHOWS THAT IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA WAKE COUNTY HAS THE LOWEST PERCENTAGE OF ITS POPULATION WITHOUT INTERNET. 5.8%. NORTHAMPTON COUNTY HAS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE WITHOUT INTERNET AT JUST OVER 40. SO WE’VE GOT ABOUT 1.2 MILLION NORTH CAROLINIANS ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. >> SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. >> THE US COMMERCE SECRETARY SAID TODAY THAT TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE WILL TAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE. SO SOME OF THAT MONEY THAT 45 BILLION WILL GO TOWARD FINDING THOSE PEOPLE AND GIVING
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