CommScope Selected by MCNC to Begin First Phase of NCREN Expansion

N.C. company awarded contract to provide materials on work to North Carolina Research and Education Network

RALEIGH and HICKORY, N.C., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- CommScope, Inc. (NYSE: CTV), a global leader in infrastructure solutions for communications networks, has been selected by MCNC to provide materials related to the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN) Southeastern and Western North Carolina Fiber Expansion Project.

"As a North Carolina-based company, we are thrilled to be chosen by MCNC for a project that not only creates jobs in North Carolina but has the potential to provide tremendous, long-lasting benefits to our state's residents," said Ric Johnsen, vice president and general manager, Broadband Solutions, CommScope.  "CommScope has a great track record around the world of helping provide the bandwidth that enables people to connect and access the vast opportunities available from advanced networks.  We are proud to help do this right in our own backyard."

This $39.9 million project received $28.2 million in funding in January through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Broadband Recovery Funds administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).

Consumers and small businesses along the fiber build will be reached with enhanced broadband service through commercial telecommunications and cable providers with whom MCNC has formed partnerships.  FRC/PalmettoNet, a middle-mile operator and partner in MCNC's Round 1 application, will assist last-mile service providers in reaching consumers and commercial businesses. The network has the potential to serve more than 1,500 anchor institutions, 180,000 businesses, and more than 300,000 underserved families.

This project will build add about 480 miles of high-speed fiber optics in 37 counties in southeastern and western N.C.  MCNC began accepting proposals for this portion of the project in mid-June. CommScope's contract is estimated at $2.5 million over the next 23 to 36 months and will deliver all materials related to the project directly to MCNC. The materials to be purchased under this contract are approximately 500 miles of fiber, 1,000 miles of conduit, approximately 600 hand holds, 10,000 couplers, approximately 100 splices cases, approximately 750 marking posts, and 100 grounding rods.

"This is a perfect opportunity to show the world that North Carolina is a leader in broadband connectivity," said Tommy Jacobson, MCNC's Vice President for Network Infrastructure Initiatives. "We are excited about what CommScope brings to the table through its global leadership, local presence, and unique logistics capabilities as MCNC continues expanding a future-proof network infrastructure to help every citizen in this state."

For more information regarding all of MCNC's BTOP activities, visit MCNC/BTOP Central Web Space.

The project's Environmental Assessment also was put into place this week with construction ready to proceed. Currently, MCNC is evaluating proposals on construction bids and a vendor decision is expected within the next 30 days.

Last month, MCNC also was awarded another $75.75 million in ARRA funding for the Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative (GLRBI). Golden LEAF provided a $24 million match to MCNC's application to help expand the NCREN footprint even further to now traverse 69 counties in the rural Northeastern, North Central, Northwest and South Central parts of North Carolina impacting 5.9 million residents and a total of 4,066 community anchor institutions.

The combination of January's Round 1 award and last month's Round 1 award will provide an historic opportunity in North Carolina is expected to create more than 1,000 engineering/construction jobs.

SOURCE MCNC