Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
Successful broadband deployment relies on coordination, planning, and partnerships. Similarly, the CBI’s work to support deployment would not have been possible without the cooperation of funders, partners, and community leaders. We are particularly grateful to Dogwood Health Trust, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and the Anonymous Trust for funding the initiative.
Thank you to all of our collaborators in this work.
Funders and Supporters
Strategic Partners
The CBI relied on several external partners for guidance on policy, implementation, planning, and advocacy. They included:
Regional Councils of Government
Regional councils of government (COGs) provide grant support and serve as convenors for local governments to support regional planning, economic development, workforce, and aging services activities. The CBI worked with eight regional COGs to bring high-speed, scalable, and affordable broadband service to every location in their governance areas:
- The Albemarle Commission, a 10-county regional council of government in Hertford.
- The Mid-East Commission, a five-county commission in Washington.
- Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments, a five-county council of government in Wilson.
- Foothills Regional Commission, a four-county regional commission in Rutherfordton.
- High Country Council of Governments, a seven-county council of government in Boone.
- Land of Sky Regional Council, a four-county regional council in Asheville.
- Southwestern Commission Council of Governments, a seven-county council of government in Sylva.
- Western Piedmont Council of Governments, a four-county council of government in Hickory.
Key Stakeholders
Several community members were important partners in ensuring accurate completion of construction, noting errors and delays, and communicating with officials. They are:
- Erna Bright Jr. (Gates County)
- Kevin Brown (Graham County)
- Tiffany Henry (Jackson County)
- Jee Lee (Macon County)
- Deborah Porto (Haywood County)
- Dr. Althea Riddick (Gates County)
- Silas Shields (Cherokee County)
- Robin Starrs (Jackson County)
- Julie Thorner (Swain County)
- Hannah White (Haywood County)
- Leonard Winchester (Swain County)
References
[1] An Act to Create the “E-NC” Authority to Continue the Work of the Rural Internet Access Authority, N.C.S.L. 2003 – 425, Part 2F, (14 August 2003), https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/SessionLaws/HTML/2003-2004/SL2003-425.html.
[2] “BEAD Eligible Locations.” Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity, North Carolina Department of Information Technology, 27 June, 2025. https://www.ncbroadband.gov/bead-eligible-locations.
[3] “Hyde among counties slated for broadband access.” April 9, 2025. Ocracoke Observer. https://ocracokeobserver.com/2025/04/09/hyde-among-counties-slated-for-broadband-access.