Internet access improving in NC

Access to the internet has become a vital resource for education and helping the state population connect to information needed for everyday living. This is a vital component to help NC citizens increase knowledge required to compete in the 21st century and is emerging as an infrastructure component that is as vital to economic health and prosperity as much as roads, water, sewer and electricity and telecommunications connectivity.

"Increasing statewide access to broadband Internet service enhances economic progress by allowing citizens to have greater access to health care information, education and job-training opportunities and support for small businesses and entrepreneurs," reports Oppie Jordan, economic developer for the Carolinas Gateway Partnership and chairwoman of the e-NC Authority governing commission.

Internet connectivity has increased only 2 percent from the previous study. A new e-NC report shows the percent of area households having the ability to access broadband Internet this year versus last year: Edgecombe, 77.4 percent, up from 75.05 percent; Nash, 76.32 percent, up from 74.17 percent; Wilson, 90.8 percent, up from 87.51 percent; and Halifax, 80.64 percent, up from 77.18 percent.

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Rocky Mount Telegram
September 20, 2007
Tom Murphy

High-speed Net access inches up

A state report released by the e-NC Authority shows that availability of broadband Internet access in North Carolina is increasing at a nominal rate.

"High-Speed Internet Access in North Carolina: A 100 County Report" reveals that 83.54 percent of North Carolina households have access to broadband Internet services. This is an increase of less than 2 percent from the previous year, said Oppie Jordan, economic developer for the Carolinas Gateway Partnership and chairwoman of the e-NC Authority governing commission. The e-NC Authority's headquarters are located in Raleigh.

"Counties that lack high-speed connectivity are often at a crucial disadvantage in terms of opportunity and prosperity," Jordan said. "I have a hard time believing that the citizens of our state would accept only 83.54 percent of homes having access to broadband Internet services."

Jordan said North Carolina is in the midst of a transformation toward a 21st century, knowledge-based economy.

"Increasing statewide access to broadband Internet enhances economic progress by allowing citizens to have greater access to health care information, education and job-training opportunities and support for small businesses and entrepreneurs," she said.

The e-NC report shows the percent of area households that have the ability to access a broadband Internet connection this year versus last year: Edgecombe, 77.4 percent, up from 75.05 percent; Nash, 76.32 percent, up from 74.17 percent; Wilson, 90.8 percent, up from 87.51 percent; and Halifax, 80.64 percent, up from 77.18 percent.

Major deployment of broadband Internet access in urban communities is nearly done, Jane Patterson, executive director of e-NC Authority, said in the report.

"What we are now trying to do is push for broadband expansion into the most under served areas, which are often rural and economically disadvantaged," Patterson said. "Dial-up won't cut it anymore – plain and simple.

"If broadband connectivity levels in this many homes, schools and businesses is so inadequate, we can't expect companies to thrive and remain competitive, or that our rural children will have a chance to learn the latest technologies and Web-based applications."

Now emerging as infrastructure that is as vital to economic health and prosperity as roads, water, sewer and electricity, advanced telecommunications connectivity, rarely extends into communities that are sparsely populated, Jordan said.

The e-NC Authority is distributing $1.21 million as matching incentive grants for expansion of high-speed Internet service into communities with the lowest levels of connectivity – Jones, Warren, Gates and Greene counties, she said. Original article...