Public Radio for the Piedmont and High Country
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

NorthState to invest $51M in expanding fiber internet in Forsyth, Randolph counties

A worker unspools fiber-optic cable. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

The communications company NorthState is pledging a $51 million investment to expand fiber-optic internet service to Forsyth and Randolph counties. 

The High Point-based company says its project will bring over 680 miles of fiber-optic technology that will benefit nearly 38,000 residents and businesses.

According to a news release, underserved areas of Forsyth County including Winston-Salem, Bethania, and Lewisville will see expanded internet coverage. In Randolph County, the Asheboro, Franklinville, and Ramseur communities will benefit.

Forsyth County Commissioner David Plyler says the investment will result in a great technological leap forward for the area.  

"The main thing is we want to serve, from my perspective, the people of Forsyth County and surrounding counties with the opportunities that are available through internet service, and NorthState is a great example of what can be done when both government and private enterprise work together," says Plyler. 

NorthState representative Jay Winn says higher bandwidth capabilities are becoming more of a necessity with the increased usage of two-way applications such as gaming and Zoom meetings.

Neal Charnoff joined 88.5 WFDD as Morning Edition host in 2014. Raised in the Catskill region of upstate New York, he graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1983. Armed with a liberal arts degree, Neal was fully equipped to be a waiter. So he prolonged his arrested development bouncing around New York and L.A. until discovering that people enjoyed listening to his voice on the radio. After a few years doing overnight shifts at a local rock station, Neal spent most of his career at Vermont Public Radio. He began as host of a nightly jazz program, where he was proud to interview many of his idols, including Dave Brubeck and Sonny Rollins. Neal graduated to the news department, where he was the local host for NPR's All Things Considered for 14 years. In addition to news interviews and features, he originated and produced the Weekly Conversation On The Arts, as well as VPR Backstage, which profiled theater productions around the state. He contributed several stories to NPR, including coverage of a devastating ice storm. Neal now sees the value of that liberal arts degree, and approaches life with the knowledge that all subjects and all art forms are connected to each other. Neal and his wife Judy are enjoying exploring North Carolina and points south. They would both be happy to never experience a Vermont winter again.

Support quality journalism, like the story above,
with your gift right now.

Donate