FOCUS Broadband announced this week that their fiber optic internet service is now available to more than 2,700 homes and businesses in Robeson County near the communities of Proctorville, Orrum, Marietta, Five Forks and Fairmont.

These projects were made possible through two grants totaling more than $4 million dollars awarded in 2020 through the Growing Rural Economies through Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant Program as well as the Special Supplementary Round of the GREAT Grant Program.

FOCUS Broadband has also invested more than $1.5 million dollars in matching funds to bring service to these rural communities.

“Receiving these broadband grants through the GREAT Grant program has allowed us to bring critical connectivity to these rural areas in Robeson County,” commented Keith Holden, FOCUS Broadband CEO, in a press release. “We know that our fiber optic service will bring a wealth of opportunities for residents and businesses here, and we are thankful to Governor Cooper and NC DIT for continuing to make rural broadband a priority through the NC GREAT Grant Program.”

FOCUS Broadband has been working to bring fiber optic service to customers in Robeson County over the last three years. With these grants, FOCUS Broadband is building a fiber optic network capable of providing multi-gigabit broadband internet to more than 35,000 homes and businesses in Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, Robeson, Pender, Hoke, Scotland, Bladen, Chowan, and Perquimans counties.

To find out where FOCUS Broadband service is available in Robeson County, go to www.fasterrobeson.com. Residents and businesses interested in signing up for FOCUS Broadband service are invited by the company to call 888-367-2862.