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State broadband official urges Durham to sign on for near-term CAB funding before BEAD arrives
Summary
North Carolina Broadband Office staff urged Durham to submit a CAB participation form (by Sept. 9) to access matching funds that can speed deployments and reduce county match requirements; the presentation highlighted address-level mapping and cost differences for remote locations.
A senior official from the North Carolina Broadband Infrastructure Office told the Durham County Board that the state is prepared to move aggressively on broadband projects and urged counties to sign up immediately for the state's CAB (Completing Access Broadband) program so projects can be initiated before federal BEAD funds arrive.
"I need to empty those dollars out and get them to work in Durham County," said Jeff Brooks of the state broadband office, describing the state's coordinated funds and mapping work and urging counties to complete a simple form by Sept. 9 to be eligible for matched CAB projects. Brooks described a range of programs — CAB, stopgap, and BEAD — and said the state's GIS work now evaluates service at the individual-address level rather than by census block.
Brooks warned that costs vary dramatically by location, especially where terrain or very low address density increases construction expense. He urged Durham officials not to wait for BEAD while CAB funds can produce projects on a two-year schedule, saying projects funded through the state CAB can put residents online by the end of 2026. Commissioners pressed staff on whether committing local ARPA or other funds now would be necessary; Brooks said many counties can participate with minimal or zero local match to get an initial, maximized project through the state's process.
