Hoke County, NC – FOCUS Broadband has completed its broadband expansion project in Hoke County, bringing high-speed fiber optic internet service to more than 1,900 addresses in rural communities outside of Raeford near Five Points and Antioch. Residents and businesses in these areas can now sign up for internet service with speeds up to 5Gig.

In 2022, FOCUS Broadband partnered with Hoke County leaders to secure a $4 million Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) to expand broadband access in underserved areas of the county’s southwestern region. To help complete the project, both FOCUS Broadband and Hoke County contributed $668,700 in matching funds.

“FOCUS Broadband is excited to begin offering high-speed internet service to the residents and businesses of Hoke County,” said FOCUS Broadband CEO, Keith Holden. “Reliable broadband is essential in today’s world, supporting healthcare, education, job opportunities, and economic growth. This project will make a real difference for families and businesses in these communities. We are thankful for the support of Hoke County leaders and the NCDIT, whose commitment to expanding broadband access continues to transform rural communities across North Carolina."

With 70 years of serving rural communities, FOCUS Broadband has established itself as a leader in broadband expansion across eastern North Carolina. Since 2019, the company has secured more than $120 million in state and federal broadband funding, extending high-speed internet access to over 22,000 homes and businesses in Brunswick, Columbus, Robeson, Duplin, Pender, Hoke, Bladen, Chowan, and Perquimans counties.