Ep.80 Envisioning Equity through Broadband with Jim Weaver, Secretary for Information Technology / State CIO at State of North Carolina

Show Notes

Jim Weaver, Secretary for Information Technology & CIO for the State of North Carolina. Jim leads the agency responsible for strategic IT planning and the procurement and delivery of IT services and solutions as well as cybersecurity. In today's episode, we cover Jim's unique perspective on North Carolina's leadership in expanding equity through broadband access and affordability across the state.

We know that in some cases it's 2-3% of a family's income to pay for the cost of internet. And during the times of the pandemic and the economic upheaval that we saw in 2020, there was a choice between access to these types of benefits, if you will, versus putting food on the table ~ Jim Weaver About 10% of our state, or about 1.1 million individuals, do not have access to the internet today here in North Carolina. And that's terrifying ~Jim Weaver Schools now, as we've seen, aren't necessarily a schoolhouse. Our world has changed a lot because of COVID. And so we have to look at delivering service wherever they're at and when the individual needs it ~ Jim Weaver

Powered by: Verizon Public Sector

And a huge thank you to Verizon Public Sector. This live podcast would not be possible without the support of Verizon. Verizon is redefining the front line for first responders, educators, and K-12 students. As a high school basketball coach working with young student-athletes I love the important mission Verizon is filling at the federal, state, and local levels working to close the digital divide by investing in high-speed internet infrastructure, access, and affordability across the nation. Learn more about Verizon Public Sector by heading to verizon.com/business/solutions/public-sector/.

In today's episode you will learn:

[02:18] What are three key strategies in North Carolina's $1.2 billion holistic approach to providing broadband to all areas- rural, suburban, and urban- throughout the state?

[06:18] What is North Carolina doing well that has been attracting high-tech industries to the state? And what does Jim envision needs to be done in order to sustain those opportunities?

[08:11] How is North Carolina addressing the digital equity divide differently than what has been done in the past? Jim Weaver talks about the governor's plan for 100% connection for households with school-aged children.

[16:40] Jim identifies what he terms as the Four Pillars of Digital Transformation and where they are headed with each

[29:15] The importance of agility in organizational structure

[00:18] + [23:39] Can a die-hard Yankees fan and Red Sox fan peacefully coexist? The friendly banter begins here, and continues in Raleigh on TechTables' first Suite Talk: Grillin' & Chillin' event, coming up on July 22nd, 2022

⭐️ Leave a Review

If you enjoy listening to the podcast, ⁠please do leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts⁠ and let us know in your review who you want to see next on the podcast. Thanks!

You can also Tweet us on ⁠@thejoetoste⁠ and tell us what lessons you learned from the episode so we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏🙏

🔗 Connect with TechTables

LinkedIn TechTables ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn - Connect with Joe! ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/⁠⁠⁠

Twitter ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/thejoetoste⁠

Follow us on Instagram! ⁠https://www.instagram.com/techtablespodcast/

🎥 Upcoming Live Podcast Tours

1. 2026 IGNITE Powered by Info-Tech LIVE - Austin, TX - Sept. 17th-18th

If you’re an IT leader in Austin, Houston, or nearby, Info-Tech’s got complimentary tickets with your name on them (just DM me I’ll be there). IGNITE is getting past the AI hype and into the real questions CIOs are wrestling with: how to get your people actually using AI, what the shift from “employee in the loop” to “employee on the loop” looks like, and how to budget when the costs keep moving up.

→ Ready to join the conversation in person? Email joe@techtables.com

3. 2026 TechTables Austin Live Podcast Tour - November 4th

We’re coming back to Texas for a live podcast stop in Austin, TX and we could not be more excited. TechTables heads to Austin to celebrate the leaders, the stories, and the work shaping the future of public sector!

→ Ready to join the conversation in person? Email joe@techtables.com

Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables:

1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter

Thanks for reading TechTables! Get early access to new episodes, insights, upcoming events, and more — straight to your inbox.

2. 🤝 You shouldn't make the hardest calls alone.

A peer advisory board of local government CIOs. Vendor-free, application only, twice a year in person — with 4x private forums in between.

See if you're a fit → https://techtables.com/communities-local-government

3. 🤝 The Better Together Series

The narrative-driven series bringing together industry partners and public sector CXOs. Discover the compelling stories that unfold when we stop working in silos and start building together.

»»» Email joe@techtables.com to learn more.