BREVARD, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Comporium will bring faster broadband speeds to areas of Transylvania county with a $2.8 million grant from North Carolina’s Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Program. Altogether, the improvements will require over $7 million.
The project includes the construction of 105 miles of fiber optic cable that will provide service to over 800 customers using a partnership arrangement with Haywood Electric Membership Corporation (EMC). An anticipated start date for construction is still being determined, but once it begins, Comporium expects the construction process to take approximately two years.
“Broadband is critical infrastructure for our community and it has been evident during the pandemic that we need high-speed internet access at home in order to support our education, economic development and health systems,” stated Transylvania County Manager, Jaime Laughter. “We are thankful that we have Senator Chuck Edwards and Representative Jake Johnson advocating for broadband infrastructure funding at the state level. We are also grateful that Comporium staff was willing to collaborate with the county and Land of Sky Regional Council’s Sara Nichols to put forward a successful ask in this round of GREAT grant funding. These investments in our community Comporium and the State of North Carolina will move us forward in addressing broadband needs.”
