NC Work From Anywhere program provides scholarships in Brightspeed fiber-enabled communities
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — June 8, 2026 — Roughly 1 in 8 U.S. workers work from home* and remote work continues creating new economic opportunities beyond major cities. That’s why Brightspeed is partnering with NC State Cooperative Extension to help more rural North Carolinians gain the skills they need to compete for remote jobs.
The NC Work From Anywhere program helps participants develop professional and digital skills designed to support remote and hybrid employment opportunities. The initiative also connects students with career readiness resources and certification pathways that can help increase access to flexible employment options without requiring them to leave their hometowns.
“Programs like NC Work From Anywhere show how broadband infrastructure and digital literacy and training can work hand in hand to support economic mobility,” said Dr. Kenneth Sherin, NC State Extension’s Community and Economic Program Manager. “As more careers become accessible remotely, it’s important that rural residents have both the connectivity and the confidence to participate.”
Through the partnership, Brightspeed is helping provide scholarships for residents in select counties where the company is expanding its high-speed fiber internet network. The scholarships will be available across eastern and central North Carolina, including Beaufort, Bertie, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Johnston, Lenoir, Nash, Onslow, Pasquotank, Pitt, Sampson and Wilson Counties, as well as Caswell, Davie, Granville, Guilford, Person and Randolph Counties.
Reliable high-speed internet is now a labor-market requirement, not just a convenience. As Brightspeed continues investing in fiber broadband infrastructure across North Carolina, the company says partnerships like this help ensure communities can take advantage of the opportunities connectivity can create.
“Access to reliable internet can help open doors for families and communities,” said Sabrina Anderson, local marketing manager for Brightspeed. “From remote work opportunities to skills training and education, connectivity can make a meaningful difference, especially in rural areas.”
To learn more, visit NC State Extension Work From Anywhere program.
*U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates: Commuting at a Glance, 2024
About Brightspeed
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. and with assets and associated operations in 20 states, Brightspeed provides broadband and telecommunications services through a network platform capable of serving more than 7.3 million homes and businesses. Our 4,000 employees are committed to building a future where more communities benefit from a more connected life, deploying a state-of-the-art fiber network and a customer experience that makes being connected as simple as it should be. For more information, please visit www.brightspeed.com.
About N.C. Cooperative Extension
N.C. Cooperative Extension is a strategic partnership of NC State University, N.C. A&T State University, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), and local governments statewide.
Extension professionals in all 100 counties, and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, connect millions of North Carolinians with research-based information and technology from NC State and N.C. A&T. Educational programs specialize in agriculture, food and nutrition, 4-H youth development, community development and the environment.
