SkyBest Communications has been awarded a Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) grant of over $9,999,400 through the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Division of Broadband and Digital Equity.
SkyLine’s wholly-owned subsidiary, SkyBest Communications, will provide services, bringing a high-speed broadband connection to more than 950 eligible locations. As one of 15 counties awarded, Avery County residents and business owners can expect project completion in the fall of 2026.
“From the very onset of our cooperative, our mission has been improving the quality of life for communities through bringing urban advancements to our rural areas,” says SkyLine Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kim Shepherd. “Connecting unserved and underserved areas with the best broadband service available is top priority at SkyLine, and we recognize this need in Avery County. We are truly grateful for this grant which allows us to help meet that need.”
For those interested in areas included in the project:
- Please visit https://fiber.skybest.com/. Enter your street address and zip code. If you are included in the grant area, you will receive the following message at the top of the web form: Yes! It looks like your address is an eligible address within the NCDIT Completing Access to Broadband project for Avery County. Please continue to the next page to enter your contact information. We will use the email you provide to reach out to you with occasional project updates. Constructing fiber in rural areas is a lengthy process, and we appreciate your patience as we expand our fiber-optic network to your community.
- Call 1-800-759-2226.
“High-speed internet is crucial to daily living,” says Shepherd. “We are proud to extend our services to more of Avery County.”