Broadband inBroadband inYancey CountyYancey County

Wanda J. ProffittWanda J. Proffitt

Jamie McMahanJamie McMahan

Burnsville

AshevilleAsheville

Burnsville

PopulationPopulation

Burnsville – 1,669 (2013)Burnsville – 1,669 (2013)

Yancey County – 17,566 (2013)Yancey County – 17,566 (2013)

Yancey & Mitchell Counties – Tier 2 Yancey & Mitchell Counties – Tier 2 CountiesCounties

Project BeginningProject Beginning

January 2009 Yancey County HostedJanuary 2009 Yancey County Hosted

Economic SummitEconomic Summit

Jane Patterson, Executive Director,Jane Patterson, Executive Director,

e-NC Authoritye-NC Authority

Yancey County Broadband Task Yancey County Broadband Task Force, Jamie McMahan, ChairForce, Jamie McMahan, Chair

Local GovernmentLocal GovernmentEducationEducationRegional Library SystemRegional Library SystemHealth CareHealth CarePublic SafetyPublic SafetyEconomic DevelopmentEconomic DevelopmentAgricultureAgricultureReal EstateReal EstateArts & CraftsArts & CraftsLocal BusinessLocal Business

Broadband Task Force DutiesBroadband Task Force Duties

Studied existing internet in the CountyStudied existing internet in the County

Explored potential solutions to improve and Explored potential solutions to improve and extend access to un-served and underserved extend access to un-served and underserved areasareas

Conducted meetings w/local internet service Conducted meetings w/local internet service providers, operators of regional networks, state providers, operators of regional networks, state and federal agencies, neighboring county and federal agencies, neighboring county governments, and others to formulate plan to governments, and others to formulate plan to improve high speed internet service to citizens.improve high speed internet service to citizens.

Provider + FinancingProvider + Financing

Country Cablevision – President Ray MillerCountry Cablevision – President Ray Miller

Financial Interest + Community DedicationFinancial Interest + Community Dedication

Worked co-operatively w/AdvantageWest,Worked co-operatively w/AdvantageWest,

French Broad Electric and ERC and installed French Broad Electric and ERC and installed fiber optic service to schools, libraries, offices, fiber optic service to schools, libraries, offices, businesses and homes serviced by Country businesses and homes serviced by Country Cablevision in Yancey and Mitchell CountiesCablevision in Yancey and Mitchell Counties

US Federal Government – American Recovery US Federal Government – American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – 2009 (AARA or the and Reinvestment Act – 2009 (AARA or the Economic Stimulus Bill) - Economic Stimulus Bill) - USDA/RUSUSDA/RUS

Middle MileMiddle Mile

ERC – Western NC Regional community ERC – Western NC Regional community focused broadband network based in Asheville, focused broadband network based in Asheville, NC that serves to expand technology in Western NC that serves to expand technology in Western NC was sub recipient of Broadband Technology NC was sub recipient of Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant through Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant through MCNC and NC Commerce (project serves five MCNC and NC Commerce (project serves five (5) counties). Many lacked the middle mile (5) counties). Many lacked the middle mile infrastructure. This middle mile expansion infrastructure. This middle mile expansion provides redundancy. Golden Leaf Foundation provides redundancy. Golden Leaf Foundation provided matching funds for this project.provided matching funds for this project.

Last MileLast Mile

Ray Miller said, Ray Miller said, ““I view this funding for high I view this funding for high speed internet as being very similar to the speed internet as being very similar to the government REA program that funded the government REA program that funded the delivery of electric service to rural areas in delivery of electric service to rural areas in 1930s, and telephone service in the 1940s and 1930s, and telephone service in the 1940s and 1950s. Without this government support, it 1950s. Without this government support, it would be very difficult, if not impossible for any would be very difficult, if not impossible for any company to justify making such an investment in company to justify making such an investment in a rural areaa rural area””..CCVN Strategic Plans – High Speed Fiber Optic CCVN Strategic Plans – High Speed Fiber Optic system to every home in Yancey and Mitchell system to every home in Yancey and Mitchell Counties – last mileCounties – last mile

CollaborationCollaboration

Private/Public Partnership – Expansion and New Private/Public Partnership – Expansion and New ProjectProjectCo-operative efforts with many individuals, Co-operative efforts with many individuals, Local, State & Federal Governments (Yancey Local, State & Federal Governments (Yancey County Commissioners, Yancey County County Commissioners, Yancey County Broadband Task Force, Mitchell County Broadband Task Force, Mitchell County Commissioners, Yancey County School System, Commissioners, Yancey County School System, Mayland Community College, Mayland Regional Mayland Community College, Mayland Regional Library System, Blue Ridge Hospital Systems, Library System, Blue Ridge Hospital Systems, Yancey and Mitchell Chambers of Commerce, Yancey and Mitchell Chambers of Commerce, Yancey County Economic Development Yancey County Economic Development Commission, Yancey-Mitchell Board of Realtors Commission, Yancey-Mitchell Board of Realtors and others.and others.

FundingFundingUSDA/RUSUSDA/RUS

$$$ Invested by Company - $6,324,250$$$ Invested by Company - $6,324,250

$$$ Invested through Rural Utility Service $$$ Invested through Rural Utility Service - $18,975,750- $18,975,750

Funded late 2010Funded late 2010

Yancey County Technology CenterYancey County Technology Center

1 Gigabit free 1 Gigabit free to the publicto the public

Thanks To:Thanks To:

Gov. Beverly Perdue embarked on public-private Gov. Beverly Perdue embarked on public-private partnership through MCNC to construct new partnership through MCNC to construct new fiber cable networks to connect community fiber cable networks to connect community anchor institutions (Universities, community anchor institutions (Universities, community colleges, schools, libraries, county offices and colleges, schools, libraries, county offices and more), plus she supported this project.more), plus she supported this project.Senator Kay HaganSenator Kay HaganCongressman Heath ShulerCongressman Heath ShulerDirector, Western NC – Gov. Perdue, Director, Western NC – Gov. Perdue,

Juleigh SittonJuleigh SittonGolden Leaf FoundationGolden Leaf FoundationRay Miller and Country CablevisionRay Miller and Country Cablevision

No JokeNo Joke

Natural Beauty + High Tech AccessNatural Beauty + High Tech AccessFor Future GrowthFor Future Growth

Yancey County, Burnsville, NCYancey County, Burnsville, NC

Last…Not Least (Yancey County was Last…Not Least (Yancey County was next to last in state to get 4-lane Highway next to last in state to get 4-lane Highway & First in NC to have fiber to the home!& First in NC to have fiber to the home!