HIGH POINT, N.C. – Lumos celebrated its launch in Burlington, North Carolina, with a ribbon-cutting adjacent to the Burlington Athletic Stadium. The company’s network will bring reliable, high-speed internet service to the community, empowering residents and small businesses with enhanced digital experiences as the first fiber-optic internet provider for many.
With Lumos’ arrival in Burlington, residents can now access lightning-fast internet speeds, providing them with the bandwidth necessary for working from home, remote learning, attending telehealth appointments, streaming, gaming, and more. This expansion is a result of significant investment by Lumos and grant funding through the N.C. GREAT Program.
“We are thrilled to launch our 100% fiber-optic internet service to the vibrant City of Burlington and its surrounding communities,” said Brian Stading, CEO of Lumos. “Lumos is a proud leader in the fiber industry, bringing our symmetrical high-speed internet service to underserved cities and towns. Today’s launch represents our ongoing commitment to bridge the digital divide and will revolutionize how the Burlington community experiences the internet. We look forward to working with our federal, state, and local partners to continue this expansion in the months and years to come.”
Asad Ramzanali, chief of staff for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, attended the event as part of the Biden Administration’s “Investing in America” tour.
“President Biden understands that high-speed internet is a necessity to work, learn, and play in today’s digital landscape. That’s why the Biden-Harris Administration is investing more than $2.8 billion to ensure communities and families in North Carolina have access to high-speed internet,” said Ramzanali. “Today we’re thrilled to see Lumos invest in expanding internet access to almost 40,000 people in Alamance County; that means 40,000 children who can more easily complete homework or 40,000 more patients who can access telehealth appointments.”
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed into law by President Biden includes a historic $65 billion for high-speed internet access and affordability, which includes funding for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). In June 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce awarded N.C. nearly $1.5 billion for high-speed internet infrastructure in BEAD funds.
That program follows other significant investments, including the American Rescue Plan Act’s Capital Projects Fund and others that have been incorporated into N.C.’s GREAT Program, which funds high-speed internet service to underserved areas. These funds, in combination with the ACP, as well as private investments from companies like Lumos, will help close the digital divide in N.C. and across the country.
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