Broadband Affordability Program.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 551

Short Title: Broadband Affordability Program. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Murdock (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 26, 2025
*S551-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NORTH CAROLINA B ROADBAND ASSISTANCE 2
PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO HELP 3
MAKE BROADBAND ACCESS MORE AFFORDABLE. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1. As used in this act, the following definitions apply: 6
(1) Broadband service. – Defined in G.S. 143B-1374(a). 7
(2) Department. – The Department of Commerce. 8
(3) Low-income family. – A family unit with an annual household income that 9
does not exceed one hundred thirty-five percent (135%) of the federal poverty 10
level guidelines published by the United States Department of Health and 11
Human Services. 12
SECTION 2.(a) The Department shall establish the North Carolina Broadband 13
Assistance Program (Program) to ensur e the affordability of broadband service to low -income 14
families. The Department shall coordinate with county departments of social services to 15
determine eligibility for low-income families for the Program, subject to the following Program 16
parameters: 17
(1) Families with annual household income at or below one hundred percent 18
(100%) of the federal poverty level are eligible for free broadband service. 19
(2) A credit of at least fifteen dollars ($15.00) per month for broadband service is 20
payable monthly to families meeting all of the following criteria: 21
a. Families with annual household income above one hundred percent 22
(100%), but no greater than one hundred thirty-five percent (135%) of 23
the federal poverty level. 24
b. Families that include at least one adult indivi dual or dependent child 25
who qualifies for or participates in at least one of the following 26
programs: 27
1. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. 28
2. Supplemental Security Income Program. 29
3. Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefits Programs. 30
4. Federal Public Housing Assistance Program. 31
5. National School Lunch Program. 32
6. Medical Assistance Program under Part 6 of Article 2 of 33
Chapter 108A of the General Statutes. 34
(3) Broadband service credits may be adjusted according to family size, as 35
determined by the Department. 36
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 551-First Edition
SECTION 2.(b) To be eligible for the Program, an applicant shall demonstrate, at 1
least annually, income qualifications in a manner satisfactory to the Department. Additionally, 2
Program recipients shall provide information to the Department suff icient to enable the 3
Department to provide funds directly to the broadband service provider on behalf of the Program 4
recipient. Program recipients shall be responsible for all charges not covered by Program funds 5
and for all other obligations under any con tract with a broadband service provider. The 6
Department may terminate a Program recipient's eligibility for Program funds upon notification 7
by the broadband service provider that the Program recipient's account is more than 45 days past 8
due. 9
SECTION 2.(c) Beginning October 1, 2025, the Department of Commerce shall 10
submit a quarterly report on the Broadband Assistance Program established in this act to the Joint 11
Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources and the 12
Fiscal Research Division. The report shall contain information detailing the following: 13
(1) The number of families applying for the Program. 14
(2) The number of families that are determined to be eligible after applying. 15
(3) The number of families participating in the Program and the duration. 16
(4) Any outreach activities undertaken by the Department or by any partner State 17
agencies. 18
(5) Any legislative recommendations relating to the Program. 19
SECTION 3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 20
Commerce the sum of two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) in nonrecurring funds 21
for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to be used for the North Carolina Broadband Assistance Program 22
described in this act. 23
SECTION 4. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 24