As Rocky Mount prepares for new fiber internet network, rural areas face their own struggles with broadband access

Federal data from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration showed in some areas of Rocky Mount over 90% of households have internet access. But in multiple other neighborhoods, the data shows more than 40% of homes don’t have any broadband at all.

“What we’ve found is that we just didn’t have enough connectivity in town,” said Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson. “The connectivity we did have, quite frankly, was disproportionate to areas of wealth versus not.”