CASHIERS, N.C. — In a first for Jackson County, N.C., ultra-high-speed connectivity will soon be available to schools, local government and businesses in the remote area. Connectivity in this mountainous part of the state is possible in large part due to the Carlton family of Cashiers, N.C. The family committed a substantial amount of money to expand a BalsamWest FiberNET project that will connect a total of 70 schools in the rural Appalachian region.

BalsamWest FiberNET, a leading provider of broadband services with headquarters in Sylva, N.C., announced Thursday that it has installed an ultra-high-speed fiber optic network connecting 45 school sites in seven rural school districts. Connectivity for the 45 school sites comprising Phase I of the Western North Carolina Education Network (WNC-EdNET) is the first rollout of the network to bring next-generation communication capabilities to the area. Phase II of the WNC-EdNET is expected to be completed in 2007. At that time, every school, college and university in the region will be connected together with the freedom to choose educational content and resources from regional, national and international institutions.

The Carlton family’s generosity and dedication to the development of WNC-EdNET allowed three schools in Jackson County to become a part of this venture.

“We felt strongly about assisting with the implementation of WNC-EdNET,” said family spokesperson Pat Carlton. “Our family has been in this area for more than forty years, and we feel blessed to give back to the community in such a way. We want students and entrepreneurs in our part of the state to have every advantage possible, and if investing in technology gives Jackson County an edge, then I can’t think of a better way to do it.”

WNC-EdNET is a public-private initiative that is bringing an otherwise unavailable product to the area and will immediately enhance western N.C. in three ways: connectivity, empowerment and economic development. The immediate benefit is the connectivity to schools, libraries and governments.

Secondly, this project empowers entrepreneurial businesses through e-commerce by allowing businesses in western N.C. to fit in with e-sensitive businesses. For example, businesses desiring to buy and sell online products and services will now have the capacity to do so efficiently.

Finally, WNC-EdNET will create a way for developers to capitalize on population growth in the area. The connectivity will entice new residents and encourage current residents to remain in the area.

“Projects like this one are extremely expensive to implement,” said Sherry McCuller, CFO of BalsamWest. “With the donation from the Carlton family we were able to expand this project and impact hundreds of students and community members who would not otherwise have access to this type of technology.”

Running through the highest and most rugged terrain east of the Rocky Mountains, this network will serve as a catalyst for advances in education as well as health care, public services, economic opportunities and job creation for western North Carolina.

Originating in Sylva, N.C., and connecting the Tri-state area to nearby metropolitan centers, BalsamWest’s fiber optic network is connecting K-12 public and charter schools, school district offices, network operations centers and higher education institutions in the counties of Clay, Cherokee, Graham, Jackson, Macon and Swain, and the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

About BalsamWest FiberNET
BalsamWest FiberNET is a leader in advancing knowledge-based companies, applications and technology in western N.C., northern Ga. and eastern Tenn. A fiber optic-based wholesale telecommunications carrier, BalsamWest provides dark fiber, collocation and high-capacity communication circuits via SONET & Ethernet services. Headquartered in Sylva, N.C., BalsamWest is rapidly expanding a world-class fiber optic network to provide open and direct access to advanced telecommunications infrastructure within and through the rapidly growing Tri-State area to nearby metropolitan areas.