Company publishes resources for consumers and businesses including how-to guides, affordability assistance information and internet access success stories
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – August 28, 2024 – Today, Brightspeed, one of the nation’s largest fiber broadband builders, officially launched its Digital Equity Hub on the company’s website, providing consumers and business owners the resources they need to understand connectivity and remain safe while working, learning, doing business and enjoying entertainment online. Brightspeed serves communities in rural and suburban areas across a 20-state footprint, primarily in areas where consumers and businesses have lacked quality options for high-speed internet service. To make the internet more accessible for all, the company is making a multi-billion-dollar investment to deploy the Brightspeed Fiber Internet network across its footprint, helping to bridge the digital divide.
"When Americans don’t have access to quality, high-speed internet service, they don’t have access to employment opportunities, virtual learning, telehealth portals, streaming entertainment or the digital economy and online marketplaces," says Pamela Sherwood, vice president of Brightspeed’s broadband office. "These are all critical in today’s hyperconnected world. Brightspeed Fiber Internet levels the playing field for families and business owners in rural and suburban communities and we provide the resources to understand connectivity and how to stay safe while navigating the internet."
During the 2020 pandemic, BroadbandNow estimated that approximately 42 million Americans did not have the ability to purchase broadband internet service. The FCC defines broadband as having download speeds of a minimum of 25 megabits per second (or Mbps) and upload speeds of at least 3 Mbps. In its most recent study, BroadbandNow has found that 22 million Americans still have no access to a broadband connection meeting the FCC’s minimum threshold. This paints a challenging picture for those who need high-speed internet to look for employment, work remotely, write a school paper or use telehealth.
Brightspeed’s Digital Equity Hub gives new internet users the information they need to log on, navigate, stream and avoid scams and threats. The how-to guides are in English and Spanish.The Brightspeed Digital Equity Hub can be accessed at www.brightspeed.com/digital-equity/
“We want to make sure that the communities we are reaching with our network can safely and knowledgeably navigate the world wide web and securely participate in online opportunities and marketplaces,” added Sherwood. “Brightspeed believes that everyone deserves access to the best internet service available, no matter where they call home, and we are making that a reality in the communities we serve.”
Brightspeed’s multi-billion-dollar investment in deploying a state-of-the-art fiber network already provides more than 1.4 million homes and businesses in more than 160 communities across 20 states access to ultrafast, reliable connectivity. The company is actively building its fiber broadband network in 17 states to reach more than four million homes.
Brightspeed has been awarded more than $227 million in local, state and federal grants and funds to extend its planned fiber broadband network build to more homes and businesses in 15 states. The company continues to pursue state and federal broadband grant funding to further bridge the digital divide including BEAD funding. There is more than $4.7 billion in BEAD funding available within the company’s footprint.
About Brightspeed
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. and with assets and associated operations in 20 states, Brightspeed provides broadband and telecommunications services through a network platform capable of serving more than 6.5 million homes and businesses. Our 4,000 employees are committed to building a future where more communities benefit from a more connected life, deploying a state-of-the-art fiber network and a customer experience that makes being connected as simple as it should be.
