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House advances $1.5 billion broadband expansion measure to Senate
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Summary
A House committee substitute for HB819, described on the floor as a roughly $1.5 billion broadband expansion package, passed the House and was ordered to the Senate; members highlighted telehealth, homework access, and economic development benefits.
Lawmakers on the House floor described and passed a bill aimed at large-scale broadband expansion across North Carolina.
Representative Johnson, sponsor for HB819 (the DIT/broadband bill), told the chamber the legislation would bring "$1,500,000,000 in broadband expansion to North Carolina," arguing it would allow students in previously underserved areas to do homework, expand telehealth access and create remote work opportunities.
The sponsor highlighted practical benefits: remote access for K–12 students, telehealth for rural residents, and broadband-enabled remote employment. The House passed the committee substitute on third reading with a unanimous voice vote recorded in the machine vote earlier in the day, and the bill was ordered sent to the Senate for consideration.
Members signaled an intent to work with the Department of Information Technology on implementation details, and a technical amendment was adopted earlier in the process to avoid duplicative statutory language.
