RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--MCNC, the non-profit operator of the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), today announced the completion of the second and final phase of the $144 million Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative (GLRBI). The GLRBI is funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), awarded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and significant matching funds from private donations and investments including a $24 million investment from the Golden LEAF Foundation and $10 million from the MCNC Endowment. “In my role as a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee, I learned about the progress of this effort through testimony presented by [MCNC President and CEO] Joe Freddoso at the hearing outlining his work in North Carolina. I was especially pleased to learn that the project owes its success to collaborations between government, private sector and incumbent stakeholders who might have viewed the project as competition rather than the joint effort it has become,” said U.S. Representative Renee Ellmers (R-NC).
In his February 2013 testimony, Freddoso discussed how the construction phase of the project gave an infusion of revenue to engineering, construction, optical equipment, and fiber/conduit companies. He pointed to Hickory, N.C.-based CommScope as operating 24/7 at the height of the project with more than 100 workers to keep up with demand.
The design, construction, and operation of the broadband network being built via the BTOP federal taxpayer dollars were expected to create more than 1,000 engineering/construction jobs. According to MCNC, no state funds were utilized as matching funds. Due to added investments from MCNC, more than 100 percent of the project grant value was expended with private-sector companies doing engineering, outside plant equipment, optical gear, and construction, all of which are based in North Carolina or have a significant presence in the state.
Today’s celebration event was held simultaneously from four locations in North Carolina (the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, UNC Charlotte, Elizabeth City State University, and the MCNC campus in Research Triangle Park), showcasing the expanded capabilities NCREN.
NCREN is now a fiber-based network that is more than 2,600 miles spanning the entire state. The first phase of the project was completed in April 2012 with 957 total operated miles (442 of which were new construction). The second phase completed today was much larger with total operated miles at 1,696 (1,300 of being new).
Vendors and contractors for Round 1 included: Fiber Technologies, Globe Communications, Comtech, Cisco Systems, CommScope, and ONUG Communications. Participating vendors and contractors for Round 2 included: BroadPlex, Cisco Systems, CommScope, Comtech, ECC Technologies, Edwards Telecommunications, Fiber Technologies, Globe Communications, Kimley-Horn & Associates, and World Fiber Technologies.
