North Carolina releases statewide map of broadband availability
Connected Nation recently released its first statewide assessment of broadband availability in North Carolina.
Created in conjunction with the North Carolina Farm Bureau, the assessment compiled data from over thirty broadband providers across the state.
In an effort to bridge the digital divide that has isolated rural communities, the North Carolina Farm Bureau and Connect North Carolina began their partnership to ensure that every rural family has the ability to connect to high speed Internet.
According to a Connected Nation press release:
"The Connect North Carolina broadband map illustrates broadband service availability at the household level, based on information from all types of providers, companies large and small, across North Carolina. Most importantly, the broadband map illustrates the service opportunities that remain in rural and other hard-to-reach locations....Through a rigorous system of broadband data collection, GIS analysis, and data verification, Connect North Carolina's mapping project determined that broadband service is currently available to 92% of North Carolina households statewide through land-based or fixed wireless technology. This leaves approximately 241,000 North Carolina households who are unserved by a terrestrial broadband provider."
The map is of particular importance to North Carolina because it can serve as a resource for those applying for federal broadband stimulus funding. In addition, the data gathered from the broadband inventory map can assist state and local governments, community groups, and providers craft community-based strategies to expand broadband deployment and adoption in the state.
New jobs, higher connectivity and an improved Internet infrastructure will have a dramatic impact on all communities in North Carolina.
Additional information about broadband availability in North Carolina is available from the e-NC Authority, another Speed Matters partner. The e-NC Authority is a state initiative to link all North Carolinians - especially those in rural areas - to the Internet.
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