Federal Grant: Davidson County internet access could see improvement
Internet access is critical and in Davidson County, the challenge is not simply whether broadband exists—it’s whether residents can fully use it.
According to 2021 data, 99.86 percent of households in Davidson County have access to internet speeds of at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, and 99.72 percent can access even faster 100/20 Mbps service. More than 78 percent of homes have access to fiber internet, giving the county a strong Availability Index Score of 73.72.
Yet adoption tells a different story.
Only 71.62 percent of households have a broadband subscription, contributing to a much lower Adoption Index Score of 58.45. More than 13.8 percent of households have no internet access at all, and 8.36 percent lack a computer device, even though service is widely available.
These gaps are closely tied to economic and demographic realities in the county. About 14.5 percent of residents live in poverty, 15.2 percent live with a disability, and 7 percent have limited English proficiency—all factors that can create barriers to digital access. Nearly 18 percent of residents are age 65 or older, a group that often needs additional support to adopt and use new technology.
Beyond Wires and Signals
State leaders say BEAD funding is designed to address more than just physical infrastructure.
“My team has worked tirelessly to ensure we are using a strategic, data-driven, and technology-neutral approach so we can deliver lasting connectivity solutions for all North Carolinians,” said NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Teena Piccione.
While the first round of BEAD funds will focus on expansion projects, North Carolina will still have more than $1 billion remaining from its allocation after initial awards. Governor Stein has urged federal officials to allow flexibility in how those funds are used, proposing investments that go beyond laying fiber.
Those proposals include:
Reducing household barriers to connectivity, such as affordability and digital skills
Improving telehealth access, particularly for rural and aging populations
Workforce development and artificial intelligence training
Cybersecurity and online safety initiatives to reduce scams and protect networks
Infrastructure resiliency to strengthen long-term reliability
For counties like Davidson, where the upload-to-download ratio remains low and only 6.4 percent of residents work from home, these investments could help turn access into meaningful use—supporting education, healthcare, and economic mobility.
A Local Impact with Statewide Reach
Broadband expansion is already underway across North Carolina, with $670 million from the American Rescue Plan Act expected to bring high-speed internet to more than 250,000 homes and businesses by the end of 2026. The BEAD program builds on that momentum, offering a longer-term strategy to reach communities that have been historically overlooked.
For Davidson County, the numbers make one thing clear: the infrastructure largely exists, but the work is not finished. As the state moves forward with BEAD-funded projects, local leaders and residents alike will be watching to see whether this historic investment translates into real, everyday connectivity for those still on the wrong side of the digital divide.
More information about the BEAD program and North Carolina’s broadband strategy is available at ncbroadband.gov.
