McIntyre Announces $28.2 Million to Expand Broadband in N.C.
U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre announced that MCNC has received $28.2 million in broadband grant funding to expand and improve broadband Internet access for nearly one-half of North Carolina’s population across 37 counties.
MCNC owns and operates the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN) to bring high-speed, broadband Internet to our state’s schools, universities, and community-anchor institutions.
Congressman McIntyre stated, “What an incredible victory this is for the citizens of North Carolina! I am grateful that our work over the last year will ensure that dedicated money is available for broadband expansion and improvement in this country. Now, North Carolinians are going to see their tax dollars come home to work for them. Broadband can be the great equalizer in business, education, and healthcare. I commend MCNC for putting forward such a strong application. ”
The $28.2 million infrastructure grant will be matched with an additional $11.7 million in funds and in-kind contributions to build a 494-mile middle-mile broadband network. This network will build new rings in the western and eastern regions of the station, which will connect to 685 miles of existing infrastructure in the urbanized central region, expanding the reach of NCREN. In southeastern North Carolina, MCNC infrastructure will serve the citizens of Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, New Hanover, and Pender counties.
Mike Murphy, Chairman of the MCNC Board of Directors stated, “We were very pleased to learn of the BTOP award to MCNC. The 480 miles of new fiber throughout the western and southeastern part of North Carolina will ensure that our K-12 schools, universities, community colleges, university hospitals and other community anchor institutions (libraries, public health) will have access to unlimited amounts of bandwidth now and into the future. All North Carolinians will benefit from the public/private partnership that created this application.”
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has awarded this funding as part of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Congressman McIntyre is Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development.
