Chowan County, NC – FOCUS Broadband announced today that nearly 4,000 addresses in Chowan and Perquimans counties now have access to fiber optic high-speed internet with speeds of up to 5 Gig, thanks to two North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grants totaling $8 million. These grants, awarded to FOCUS Broadband in late 2022, have already connected over 1,200 homes and businesses.

Work is currently underway with substantial progress having already been made on two additional projects in Chowan and Perquimans counties. These projects were also funded through NCDIT’s GREAT Grant program. The grants, totaling $7.2 million, were awarded in 2023 and will expand broadband service to an additional 1,700 addresses in both counties. Completion is expected later this year.

In total, FOCUS Broadband will contribute approximately $1.7 million in matching funds to these GREAT Grant projects, with additional support provided by each county.

“We’re proud of the work we’ve done in Chowan and Perquimans to bring high-speed internet access to thousands of residents,” said Keith Holden, CEO of FOCUS Broadband. “Leaders in these counties recognized the need for high-speed internet and reached out to us after seeing our success in other areas. Their support—along with NCDIT’s commitment to rural broadband—has been essential in bringing multi-gig broadband service to these communities.”

In 2024, FOCUS Broadband was awarded funding through the Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program to extend fiber optic internet to 800 additional addresses split between the two counties. The company is currently waiting to find out if additional CAB funding will be awarded to it for the purpose of bringing high-speed internet access to almost all of the remaining underserved locations in Chowan and Perquimans counties.

“When we first began discussions with county leaders, thousands of residents lacked access to reliable high-speed internet,” added Holden. “Now, just a few years later, both counties are on track to be nearly 100% connected. That’s a major achievement, and we’re proud to have played a role in making it happen.”

To see a complete map of where FOCUS Broadband service is currently available in Chowan and Perquimans counties, as well as where service will be made available as part of ongoing grant projects, visit either www.fasterchowan.com or www.fasterperquimans.com.