WE'RE BRINGING HIGH SPEED INTERNET TO YOU!

FOCUS Broadband has a strong history of providing broadband to rural areas and maximizing the use of grant dollars for the betterment of rural communities. To date, we have won more than $100 million in state and federal grant funds to serve residents and businesses in Bladen, Brunswick, Chowan, Columbus, Duplin, Hoke, Robeson,
Pender, Perquimans, and Scotland Counties.

HOW We're Making It Happen

Learn more about the broadband grants we’ve received which have helped us bring high-speed internet to rural areas in North Carolina.

2010
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2019
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2020
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2021
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2022
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2023
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2024
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• In 2010, FOCUS Broadband received a $12 million grant through the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service to build a fiber optic network to more than 2,000 homes and businesses in the Columbus County communities of Nakina and Old Dock. This project was completed by 2013.

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• In May of 2019, FOCUS Broadband won a $1 million grant from the NC GREAT Grant program to build a fiber optic network to serve over 700 homes and businesses in the Columbus County community of Beaverdam. This project was completed in July of 2020.

• In December of 2019, FOCUS Broadband won a $7.9 million USDA ReConnect Grant to construct a fiber optic network to more than 2,000 homes and businesses in the Columbus County communities of Tabor City, Hallsboro, Bolton, Lake Waccamaw, and areas north of Whiteville. This project was completed in December of 2023.

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• In August of 2020, FOCUS Broadband was awarded $2.5 million in grant funds from the NC GREAT Grant program to serve residents and businesses in the Columbus County towns of Fair Bluff and Boardman, as well as the Robeson County communities of Orrum and Proctorville. FOCUS Broadband was also awarded an additional $1.2 million through the NC GREAT Grant Program to serve rural areas in Duplin County. All projects were completed by spring of 2023.

• In September of 2020, FOCUS Broadband was awarded a $21.6 million USDA ReConnect Grant to construct a fiber optic network to more than 5,000 homes and businesses in rural Pender County. Construction for the project is currently underway with nearly half of the project completed.

• In December of 2020, FOCUS Broadband was awarded $7.8 million through a special supplementary round of the NC GREAT Grant program, allowing FOCUS Broadband to bring high-speed internet to 5,000 rural addresses in Brunswick, Columbus, Robeson, and Duplin counties. All four projects were completed by 2023.

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• In December of 2021, FOCUS Broadband was awarded a $2.9 million grant from the USDA Community Connect Grant program to bring high-speed internet to more than 1,200 unserved addresses in the communities of Howellsville and Tolarsville in rural Robeson County. FOCUS Broadband contributed $435,780 in matching funds to complete the project. Work on this project was completed in September of 2023.

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• In July of 2022, FOCUS Broadband was awarded a $4 million grant from the NC GREAT Grant program to serve residents and businesses in the rural areas of Chowan County. Construction on this project is currently underway.

• In August of 2022, FOCUS Broadband was awarded $25 million in grant funds from the NC GREAT Grant program to serve nearly 10,000 residents and businesses in the rural areas of Bladen, Columbus, Robeson, Duplin, Pender, Hoke, and Perquimans counties. Construction on the Bladen County project was completed in February of 2024. Construction is currently underway on the Columbus, Duplin, Hoke, Robeson, Pender, and Perquimans projects.

• In September of 2022, FOCUS Broadband was awarded a $24.6 million grant from the USDA ReConnect Grant program to build a fiber optic network in Robeson and Scotland counties, which will be used to bring high-speed internet to more than 13,972 residents, 198 businesses, 166 farms and 18 public schools in rural communities near Rowland, Maxton, Wagram, Laurinburg, and areas east of Lumberton. Work on this project is currently underway.

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• In July of 2023, FOCUS Broadband was awarded two additional GREAT Grants totaling $7.2 million to serve rural communities in Chowan and Perquimans counties. The funding was part of the Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program that supplemented the 2022 GREAT Grant program. These grants will be used to bring high-speed internet to 780 homes in Chowan County and 988 homes in Perquimans County. Construction is currently underway on these projects.

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• In May of 2024, FOCUS Broadband submitted a USDA ReConnect Grant Round 5 application. If awarded, the grant funds will allow FOCUS Broadband to bring high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved communities in Duplin, Bladen and Brunswick counties. This application is currently pending.

• In June of 2024, FOCUS Broadband was announced a recipient of two Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program awards. The CAB funding will allow FOCUS Broadband to expand their fiber optic network to an additional 800 addresses in Chowan and Perquimans counties.

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• In 2010, FOCUS Broadband received a $12 million grant through the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service to build a fiber optic network to more than 2,000 homes and businesses in the Columbus County communities of Nakina and Old Dock. This project was completed by 2013.


 

• In May of 2019, FOCUS Broadband won a $1 million grant from the NC GREAT Grant program to build a fiber optic network to serve over 700 homes and businesses in the Columbus County community of Beaverdam. This project was completed in July of 2020.

• In December of 2019, FOCUS Broadband won a $7.9 million USDA ReConnect Grant to construct a fiber optic network to more than 2,000 homes and businesses in the Columbus County communities of Tabor City, Hallsboro, Bolton, Lake Waccamaw, and areas north of Whiteville. This project was completed in December of 2023.

• In August of 2020, FOCUS Broadband was awarded $2.5 million in grant funds from the NC GREAT Grant program to serve residents and businesses in the Columbus County towns of Fair Bluff and Boardman, as well as the Robeson County communities of Orrum and Proctorville. FOCUS Broadband was also awarded an additional $1.2 million through the NC GREAT Grant Program to serve rural areas in Duplin County. All projects were completed by spring of 2023.

• In September of 2020,FOCUS Broadband was awarded a $21.6 million USDA ReConnect Grant to construct a fiber optic network to more than 5,000 homes and businesses in rural Pender County. Construction for the project is currently underway with nearly half of the project completed.

• In December of 2020, FOCUS Broadband was awarded $7.8 million through a special supplementary round of the NC GREAT Grant program, allowing FOCUS Broadband to bring high-speed internet to 5,000 rural addresses in Brunswick, Columbus, Robeson, and Duplin counties. All four projects were completed by 2023.

• In December of 2021, FOCUS Broadband was awarded a $2.9 million grant from the USDA Community Connect Grant program to bring high-speed internet to more than 1,200 unserved addresses in the communities of Howellsville and Tolarsville in rural Robeson County. FOCUS Broadband contributed $435,780 in matching funds to complete the project. Work on this project was completed in September of 2023.

• In July of 2022, FOCUS Broadband was awarded a $4 million grant from the NC GREAT Grant program to serve residents and businesses in the rural areas of Chowan County. Construction on this project is currently underway.

• In August of 2022, FOCUS Broadband was awarded $25 million in grant funds from the NC GREAT Grant program to serve nearly 10,000 residents and businesses in the rural areas of Bladen, Columbus, Robeson, Duplin, Pender, Hoke, and Perquimans counties. Construction on the Bladen County project was completed in February of 2024. Construction is currently underway on the Columbus, Duplin, Hoke, Robeson, Pender, and Perquimans projects.

• In September of 2022, FOCUS Broadband was awarded a $24.6 million grant from the USDA ReConnect Grant program to build a fiber optic network in Robeson and Scotland counties, which will be used to bring high-speed internet to more than 13,972 residents, 198 businesses, 166 farms and 18 public schools in rural communities near Rowland, Maxton, Wagram, Laurinburg, and areas east of Lumberton. Work on this project is currently underway.

• In July of 2023, FOCUS Broadband was awarded two additional GREAT Grants totaling $7.2 million to serve rural communities in Chowan and Perquimans counties. The funding was part of the Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program that supplemented the 2022 GREAT Grant program. These grants will be used to bring high-speed internet to 780 homes in Chowan County and 988 homes in Perquimans County. Construction is currently underway on these projects.

• In June of 2024, FOCUS Broadband was announced a recipient of two Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program awards. The CAB funding will allow FOCUS Broadband to expand their fiber optic network to an additional 800 addresses in Chowan and Perquimans counties.

• In May of 2024, FOCUS Broadband submitted a USDA ReConnect Grant Round 5 application. If awarded, the grant funds will allow FOCUS Broadband to bring high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved communities in Duplin, Bladen and Brunswick counties. This application is currently pending.

Who We Are

FOCUS Broadband is a nonprofit cooperative, owned by its members. We began serving the people of Brunswick County in 1955 and have grown to become the largest communications cooperative in North Carolina offering High-Speed Internet, Business Communications, Security, and Wireless, to over 70,000 customers in Brunswick, Columbus, Robeson, Duplin, Pender, Bladen, Chowan, Hoke, Scotland and Perquimans Counties.

FOCUS Broadband was built to serve rural areas. To date, we have won more than $100 million in grant funds to build a fiber optic network capable of delivering gigabit speed internet to underserved communities in eastern North Carolina. In addition, we have invested millions more by self-funding high-speed internet projects, which have impacted thousands of rural customers.

We will continue to work hard to eliminate the digital divide in eastern North Carolina.

BENEFITS OF FIBER

SPEED:

FOCUS Broadband delivers broadband speeds up to 5 Gigabits-that’s among the fastest, most powerful connection around.

VALUE:

Research shows that a home served by fiber optic technology is worth more than a similar home that is not.

STABILITY:

The fiber optic technology that powers our network is resistant to corrosion, not susceptible to lightning damage, and has a longer life expectancy than regular coaxial cables.

SERVICE:

Our services are backed by award-winning, local customer service and 24/7 technical support.

FLEXIBILITY:

Because of the nearly limitless connection, homes served by FOCUS Broadband are better equipped for the communications and entertainment technologies of tomorrow.

Advantages of FOCUS Broadband Fiber Optics

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