It wasn't that long ago when citizens with a color television, a touchtone telephone and a CD player were considered "technologically advanced."

How times have changed. Read more...

WESTERN NC— Back in 2002, Drake Software, which files millions of taxpayer returns electronically every year, had eight outages in Western NC. “We could not afford to be down,” says David Hubbs, of Internet Services for Drake, “so we had two choices. Build something to get redundancy or move.” Read more...

Representatives from Sylva’s BalsamWest Fibernet recently testified before Congress on the success of expanding broadband in Western North Carolina.

The company was among many providers and consumers of rural telecommunications services that recently told the House Small Business Subcommittee on Rural and Urban Entrepreneurship that while these technologies can increase investment and employment in their communities, the are not yet being used to their full potential. Read more...

RUTHERFORDTON — Congressman Heath Shuler held a special sub-committee meeting on rural broadband connectivity Wednesday, and the topics discussed could have far-reaching implications for Rutherford County.

“Many rural communities across the country are strug­gling to remain competitive,' said Shuler in his role as chairman of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Rural and Urban Entrepren­eurship. 'By harnessing new technologies, we can create new opportunities, improving the way businesses — espe­cially farms — operate, and reverse this trend.” Read more...

Read article