BalsamWest FiberNET contributes to Broadband Recovery in NC

Sylva, NC, August 20, 2010 – The United States Department of Commerce announced that MCNC, an independent non-profit organization that employs advanced networking technologies and systems to improve learning and collaboration throughout North Carolina’s K-20 education community, has been awarded $75.75 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Broadband Recovery Funds. Sylva based company BalsamWest FiberNET contributed to a proposal by the MCNC to improve broadband access for education and businesses and to enhance feasibility of Health Information Exchange (HIE) initiatives across the state.

This award builds on MCNC’s Round 1 BTOP award, a $39.9 million project (including $28.2 million in BTOP funds) granted in January 2010. This award, which BalsamWest also contributed to a proposal for, was to build a 480-mile middle-mile broadband network passing almost half the population of North Carolina in 37 counties. Approximately 1,300 miles of new middle-mile fiber will be built throughout the state under this latest award.

The MCNC operates the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), one of the nation’s first statewide education and research networks. NCREN provides broadband communications technology services and support to K-12 school districts, higher education campuses, academic research institutions, and public health facilities across the state.

BalsamWest will be working in cooperation with MCNC to enhance the Western region’s connectivity with the major metro areas in the state allowing for growth and opportunity that previously have not been available.

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BalsamWest FiberNet is a fiber optic-based, wholesale and enterprise telecommunications carrier and is jointly owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Drake enterprises, Ltd. The mission of BalsamWest is to bring 21st century communications to Western North Carolina that previously have not been available in rural areas.

If you would like more information please call Mandy Lail at 828-586-6141 or email Mandy at alail@balsamwest.net.