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Read. Follow. Verify.North Carolina reallocates broadband funds for Hurricane Helene disaster recovery and expands pole replacement rules
Last action · April 10, 2025: Ref to the Com on Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action)Sponsors: Jake Johnson and 17 others
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What This Bill Would Do
North Carolina permits the Department of Information Technology to allocate up to $50 million in existing broadband funds for emergency repair and infrastructure hardening following Hurricane Helene, while updating pole replacement reimbursement rules and satellite grant priorities.
Communications providers and local entities gain access to up to $50 million in repurposed funds for disaster repairs, and pole owners face stricter timelines and dispute procedures for broadband attachment requests.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Communications service providers
Eligible to apply for satellite grants, disaster repair reimbursements, and pole replacement funds under updated regulatory timelines.
Pole owners
Required to review access requests, complete surveys, and provide good-faith estimates within 60 days while adhering to new dispute procedures.
State and local government entities
Qualify as eligible entities to receive satellite internet service grants and installation materials.
Key Facts
- The Department of Information Technology may use up to $50 million from the Broadband Make Ready Accelerator appropriation for emergency rebuilding and hardening of broadband infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Helene.
- Grant applicants for satellite internet service and fixed wireless under the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology program are prioritized if they operate in one of 39 counties designated as disaster areas due to Hurricane Helene.
- Communications service providers incurring costs to remove and replace existing utility poles or place facilities underground can apply for reimbursement equal to 50 percent of eligible costs or $10,000 per pole, whichever is less.
- Pole owners must provide a good-faith estimate for any make-ready costs to communications service providers within 60 days after receiving a complete application for access.
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- Disputes arising from pole access requests may be brought before the Utilities Commission, which must issue a final order resolving the dispute within 120 days.
- The Department must maintain and publish on its website quarterly reports regarding reimbursement applications, funding amounts, and the remaining balance in the Program special fund.
- The Utilities Commission may designate mobile radio communications service providers as eligible telecommunications carriers for Lifeline service upon petition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to receive disaster funding for broadband infrastructure repairs?
What is the maximum reimbursement amount for replacing a utility pole?
How long does a pole owner have to provide a cost estimate for broadband access?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
3 actions- Apr 10, 2025HouseRef to the Com on Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- Apr 10, 2025HousePassed 1st Reading
- Apr 8, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 13 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Repurposing Prior Appropriations for Disaster Recovery
The legislation shifts unspent funds from previous broadband acceleration programs to immediate disaster relief for areas impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.ncleg.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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