How Kinetic’s $8m fiber project will bring high-speed internet to Stanly and Cabarrus counties

Kinetic, a division of Windstream Holdings focused on residential and enterprise broadband connectivity, has launched an $8 million infrastructure initiative to deploy high-speed fiber internet across Cabarrus and Stanly counties in North Carolina. The fiber expansion project—part of the state’s Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program—aims to connect over 1,900 underserved locations by late 2026, in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT), local county governments, and U.S. Department of the Treasury-backed grant programs.

The initiative will install more than 170 miles of fiber-optic lines throughout the region, supporting rural homes, schools, medical centers, and small businesses. Kinetic, which currently provides broadband services across 18 U.S. states, is prioritizing rural connectivity to help close the digital divide in communities lacking affordable, reliable internet access.

The launch represents a continuation of North Carolina’s broadband investment push, which has accelerated in the post-pandemic years through combined state and federal support for internet access equity.

What level of fiber deployment is Kinetic planning in Cabarrus and Stanly counties, and who is funding the expansion?

Kinetic’s current expansion plan will install approximately 78 miles of fiber infrastructure in Stanly County and 95 miles in Cabarrus County. This broadband push is expected to serve more than 900 locations in Stanly and over 1,000 in Cabarrus, targeting areas that lack dependable, high-speed service.

Funding for the Stanly County segment includes over $910,000 in direct investment from Kinetic, matched by $1.1 million each from NCDIT and Stanly County. In Cabarrus County, the financial structure features $1.5 million from Kinetic, with additional contributions exceeding $1.75 million each from NCDIT and the local county administration.

Total public and private investment across the two-county footprint surpasses $8 million, creating a cost-sharing model that maximizes broadband impact with relatively modest capital per household. Institutional stakeholders have characterized the structure as financially efficient for rural infrastructure, enabling fiber deployment in otherwise commercially unattractive geographies.

Why are analysts emphasizing fiber internet access as a strategic development priority in rural southeastern states?

Analysts tracking regional broadband rollout trends have highlighted fiber connectivity as an essential enabler of post-industrial economic resilience, particularly in southern states like North Carolina that include both fast-growing metros and broadband-poor rural zones.

In the wake of widespread remote work adoption, telehealth proliferation, and cloud-based learning models, fiber broadband is now treated as critical infrastructure. From an institutional standpoint, improved rural broadband access enhances regional competitiveness, reduces dependency on urban migration, and supports industrial diversification.

Kinetic’s expansion through the CAB program complements statewide economic development plans that rely on digital inclusion as a key pillar. Teena Piccione, Secretary of NCDIT and the state’s chief information officer, underscored the initiative’s role in empowering rural residents to engage in digital-first activities such as remote work, education, and online health services.

County officials echoed this sentiment. Andy Lucas, Stanly County manager, emphasized the link between high-speed internet and improvements in healthcare access, financial literacy, and overall economic development. The sentiment was reinforced by Sarah Hardin, Kinetic’s Vice President of Government Affairs for the Southeast Region, who noted that broadband is foundational for innovation and regional educational competitiveness.

What is the timeline for completion of Kinetic’s $8 million North Carolina fiber broadband project?

Kinetic expects to complete the entire fiber installation across Cabarrus and Stanly counties by the end of 2026. Construction is already underway, with primary groundwork operations focused on routing, trenching, and aerial fiber placement. Once finished, the broadband infrastructure will be capable of delivering gigabit-speed services to thousands of homes and businesses.

Kinetic has emphasized that service availability will be phased, with residents in select areas becoming eligible before the full project end-date. The company has directed interested users to GoKinetic.com for residential service updates and KineticBusiness.com for business and enterprise connectivity inquiries.

This staggered roll-out aligns with regional infrastructure practices, allowing localized turn-ups even as broader network construction continues. According to institutional sources, gradual activation also enables testing and network optimization, improving long-term reliability and performance metrics.

How does this initiative fit into Kinetic’s long-term strategy and broader rural broadband ambitions?

Kinetic, which operates under the Windstream corporate umbrella, is engaged in a broader effort to expand fiber broadband across underserved U.S. territories. The firm’s core strategy targets small-to-mid-size markets, rural counties, and transitional suburban zones—locations traditionally overlooked by larger telecom players due to lower return-on-investment profiles.

Windstream’s fiber strategy prioritizes reliability, security, and managed services integration. Kinetic’s product suite extends beyond consumer broadband to include business fiber, dark fiber leasing, and managed cloud communications. Its existing footprint already includes 18 states, with North Carolina emerging as a key growth market due to supportive state policies and rapid local government adoption.

Analysts observe that Kinetic’s partnership-driven approach with county governments and agencies like NCDIT lowers deployment costs while unlocking long-term revenue through regional subscriber retention. The firm is also leveraging federal incentives such as the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and U.S. Treasury support to maximize its investment capacity.

Notably, this project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal funds allocated to the State of North Carolina by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, adding a layer of fiscal durability to the project.

What are institutional expectations regarding digital equity and broadband access across rural North Carolina?

Institutional sentiment regarding North Carolina’s broadband equity agenda is broadly positive, with most observers praising the state’s cross-sector approach to infrastructure funding. The CAB program, in particular, is regarded as a model for balancing state oversight with local initiative and private sector execution.

Analysts believe that Kinetic’s collaboration with NCDIT and county governments demonstrates a viable pathway for scaling digital infrastructure in rural markets without over-reliance on single-source federal grants. While investor returns from rural broadband are not typically immediate, the long-term customer loyalty and upsell potential make such deployments strategically valuable.

Experts expect North Carolina’s broadband expansion to serve as a benchmark for similar initiatives in other southeastern and midwestern states, especially those with large rural populations and historically uneven connectivity.

What is the projected long-term impact of the fiber buildout on local economies and service accessibility?

By the end of 2026, the new fiber infrastructure is anticipated to significantly narrow the digital gap for more than 1,900 rural homes and businesses in Cabarrus and Stanly counties. The result will be a measurable uplift in broadband penetration, which has downstream effects on workforce readiness, telehealth access, and small business scalability.

The initiative is also expected to have secondary economic benefits, including job creation during the construction phase and increased property values in newly connected neighborhoods. Institutional forecasts suggest broadband availability is correlated with long-term educational outcomes and entrepreneurial activity—factors that could raise the socio-economic baseline in these counties over time.

From a service perspective, Kinetic’s network will offer symmetrical high-speed access, scalable bandwidth tiers, and managed customer support—critical features for users transitioning from legacy DSL or satellite solutions.

What comes next in Kinetic’s multi-state broadband deployment strategy?

Following this North Carolina buildout, Kinetic is likely to pursue similar deployments across other eligible territories using the CAB framework and complementary federal programs. With state and national emphasis growing around digital equity, Kinetic’s rural market specialization positions it to benefit from ongoing policy and funding alignment.

Market observers anticipate additional project announcements in Georgia, Kentucky, and Arkansas, where Windstream already has a sizeable operating presence. The company’s incremental fiber deployment model—anchored in strategic partnerships—remains a core blueprint for expanding into difficult-to-serve markets.

Investors and policy watchers will continue tracking Kinetic’s performance in these multi-stakeholder initiatives, particularly regarding uptake rates, service continuity, and return on public-private capital deployed.