Feds win control of the Internet

The “FCC just lost the battle ‘but can finally win the war’ …”

http://www.wired.com/opinion/2014/01/one-talking-comes-net-neutrality/

Net Neutrality to end ?

Judges in Washington have just struck down the FCC’s Open Internet Order due to mistakes made when the agency adopted its Net Neutrality rules.

See this article for more information: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304049704579320500441593462?mod=djemalertNEWS

Broadband Survey

Asheville, NC (October 15, 2013) – Recently, NC Secretary of Commerce Sharon Decker sent out an email asking for folks to participate in a survey that will “.. provide a more robust understanding of broadband’s impact on the state’s economy.” If you have received this, or want to partake as either an individual or corporation, check out this link. If you want to find out more, click on WRAL’s story here.

ERC completes its part in the Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative

Asheville, NC (August 13, 2013)– Yesterday, MCNC, the nonprofit operator of the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), hosted a four city video conference entitled ‘Broadband for the Future’ to announce the completion of the second and final phase of the $144 million Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative (GLRBI). The GLRBI was funded through grants from the US Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). Significant matching funds – required to obtain the grants – came from groups such as the Golden LEAF Foundation ($24 million) and the MCNC Endowment ($10 million). The ERC, a private nonprofit broadband operator based in Asheville, was a subrecipient to MCNC for the GLRBI.

Held simultaneously at the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, UNC Charlotte, Elizabeth City State University, and the Research Triangle Park MCNC campus, the celebration highlighted many accomplishments such as: the extended NCREN fiber optic network; the enhanced innovation opportunities across the State; the expanded support for  community anchor institutions; the increased opportunties for private sector partnerships.

Biltmore Farms CEO and ERC Board member Jack Cecil and ERC Executive Director Hunter Goosmann gave presentations at the event, along with Thomas Karl from the National Climatic Data Center. Other notable presenters included North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, NC Representative David Price, NC Congresswoman Renee Ellmers, NC Representative Jason Saine, and Golden LEAF Foundation CEO Dan Gerlach.

The ERC used its grant award to expand the ERC fiber optic footprint across western North Carolina, furthering its mission to increase broadband connectivity and technology adoption across WNC. For more information related to the ERC or the GLRBI, please call Jessica Stavish at (828) 350-2415 or email her at  jstavish@ercbroadband.azurewebsites.net. You can also find us on the web at www.ercbroadband.com. For more information on MCNC, visit www.mcnc.org.

Joe Freddoso testifies before House Committee

Washington, DC (March 6, 2013) –  MCNC’s Joe Freddoso testified before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology  to answer the question, “Is the Broadband Stimulus Working?”. During his testimony, Mr. Freddoso emphatically pointed out how MCNC’s successful deployment of BTOP stimulus-funded fiber-optic cable benefits North Carolina. More information can be found at https://www.mcnc.org/btop/progress/reports.

The ERC is a subrecipient to MCNC for its BTOP stimulus effort. The ERC also partners with MCNC to support its mission as well as the State’s broadband and technology-related goals across western North Carolina.