Broadband helps North Carolina emerge as 'The Connected State'

RALEIGH, USA: MCNC announced that more than 250 educators, researchers, government officials, and business leaders from all over the state gathered to discuss the future of high-speed internet, networking, and the applications broadband enables during NCREN Community Day 2013 held at the James B. Hunt Jr. Library at NC State University.

This year is significant for MCNC as the organization celebrates the completion of the Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative, which over the past three years has expanded the fiber-based network to cover more than 2,600 linear miles spanning the entire state.

After completing this historic $144 million expansion through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) in August, North Carolina has become one of just a handful of states with an open access, middle-mile fiber network available to economic developers, businesses and broadband service providers.

Todd Broucksou, senior director of NCREN Community Support, said: "The Connected State theme this year acted as the creative catalyst on expanding networks, increased bandwidth, and the horizons of our research teams.

"The expanded NCREN is a totally new infrastructure for the state that affordably and effectively removes the bandwidth restraints and connection barriers our schools, non-profit health care and other institutions have experienced in the past. For the next several generations, broadband infrastructure will be a highway to innovation in North Carolina for these institutions."