North Carolina’s e-NC to Survey Broadband Availability

WASHINGTON, June 7, 2010 – Using funds from the Broadband Data Improvement grant North Carolina’s e-NC Authority has undertaken an online survey to determine present usage of high speed broadband internet in the state. The survey has been emailed to over 100,000 potential respondents with a special

WASHINGTON, June 7, 2010 – Using funds from the Broadband Data Improvement grant North Carolina’s e-NC Authority has undertaken an online survey to determine present usage of high speed broadband internet in the state. The survey has been emailed to over 100,000 potential respondents with a special focus on rural areas and small towns.

“Future economic growth and prosperity for both North Carolina and the nation depends on the availability and use of high-speed broadband,” said Jane Smith Patterson, executive director of e-NC Authority. “We are especially concerned about rural areas and small towns in North Carolina because broadband access and utilization are still a challenge in these communities.”

The $2 million grant to e-NC comes at a fragile time for the state’s infrastructure last year the program faced a 50% cut in funding. If the survey yields enough data e-NC will be able to create multi-year broadband mapping and planning program for North Carolina, which they will be able to leverage for future funding.