North Carolina Launched Satellite Resiliency Grant Program
The state released $1 million to provide emergency backup satellite connectivity for critical institutions.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Telecommunications
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The North Carolina Department of Information Technology has launched a $1 million grant program to supply satellite internet equipment to state agencies, local governments, and volunteer fire departments. This initiative aims to maintain essential communications during natural disasters following the network disruptions caused by Hurricane Helene.
Why it matters
The program addresses the vulnerability of terrestrial networks during severe weather events by enabling organizations to maintain backup connectivity. It specifically targets disaster-prone regions to ensure that community anchor institutions remain operational during future emergencies.
The $1 million program provides funding for both satellite hardware and installation materials. This capital is sourced from the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology grant program, which previously supported terrestrial infrastructure expansions.
The players
North Carolina Department of Information Technology
The state agency managing digital infrastructure and government connectivity programs.
The details
The program distributes satellite resiliency tools to organizations in 39 North Carolina counties recently designated as federal disaster areas. Eligible entities must complete the NCDIT Application and Certification Form to receive the hardware. This equipment functions as a secondary communication channel, operating independently of the ground-based fiber or cable lines that were disabled during Hurricane Helene.
Timeline
September 23, 2026: The deadline for submitting the Application and Certification Form.
The Tech Race
This program follows a strategic pivot in how state governments utilize rural connectivity grants to harden local infrastructure. By repurposing funds from the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology program, the state is prioritizing immediate failover capability over traditional fiber expansion.
Volunteer fire departments and local government offices in the 39 designated counties are eligible to receive hardware that ensures constant communication during outages. Residents served by these institutions will benefit from increased uptime of emergency services during severe weather.
The takeaway
This initiative represents a critical shift toward distributed satellite redundancy for state emergency management. Stakeholders should monitor the post-deadline announcement of grant recipients to determine which regional hubs will establish this backup capability first.
What happens next
Organizations must submit their Application and Certification Form by the September 23, 2026 deadline to be considered for funding.
Further reading
For more information on the state's infrastructure initiatives, see Telecommunications.
More information
Review the full eligibility criteria and submission process on the Broadband Satellite Resiliency Grant program page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Smoky Mountain News.
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