Smart broadband starts with MCNC in North Carolina

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., July 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- MCNC, the non-profit operator of the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), today announced that the impact and value of broadband access on North Carolina communities, businesses, and citizens remains one of the most important investments to North Carolina's economic future and that MCNC is ready to bring connectivity levels to all-time highs.

NCREN is North Carolina's premier community anchor network and one of the largest statewide fiber networks of its kind in the United States. Now at 2,600 miles touching virtually every county in the state, MCNC delivers affordable broadband connections to world-renowned research facilities, non-profit health care sites, government and public safety agencies, and to millions of students and educators throughout the state. In total, MCNC now provides technology services to more than 500 community anchor institutions in North Carolina.

For more than three decades, MCNC has been a leader in broadband deployment and operational excellence for North Carolina. MCNC has had great achievement in recent years as the organization has nearly doubled in size to 80 employees. This year, MCNC also hired two new executives, further demonstrating the organization's commitment in developing new services to benefit customers as well as the well-being and development of staff. Andy Gilbert was named MCNC's Senior Director of Services Development, and Laura A. Cline was selected as Director of Human Resources. Gilbert brings more than 30 years of experience in IT management and business development previously working with firms such as Alphanumeric Systems, Inc., Coventry Health Care of the Carolinas, and Rex Healthcare. Cline joins MCNC after holding previous senior HR positions with R.A. Jeffreys Distributing Company as well as Alliance HealthCare Services and Pepsi Bottling Ventures.

Financially, revenue continues to grow year-over-year with projected revenues for FY 2016-2017 estimated at $51 million by June 30, 2017, giving MCNC the means to successfully re-invest back into NCREN and make the network even more robust for customers. Over the last decade, MCNC has expanded NCREN through the $144 million Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative while also investing nearly $32 million in organizational resources without the use of state tax dollars in the proper upkeep of NCREN.

"Access to high-speed Internet in North Carolina is now a fundamental part of any plan to improve a community's overall quality of life," said MCNC President and CEO Jean Davis. "As history shows us, we can accomplish anything with the right combination of tools and leadership. And, MCNC is committed to leading and providing the technology and expertise to connect North Carolina in new and smart ways."

MCNC works with existing and future NCREN customers to identify and meet broadband, network services, and application needs by partnering with top service and application providers to develop, deploy, and sustain solutions for NCREN connectors.

NCREN users today include (but are not limited to) the UNC System, serving more than 220,000 students across 16 university campuses and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics; about 75 percent of North Carolina's Independent Colleges and Universities; all 115 North Carolina public K-12 school districts serving 1.4 million students; more than half of the active K-12 charter schools in North Carolina and growing; all 58 institutions of the North Carolina Community College System, serving more than 850,000 students; research institutions and foundations such as the N.C. Biotechnology Center, Research Triangle Institute (RTI), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) as just a few examples; the N.C. Highway Patrol, and more than 130 public health clinics and not-for-profit hospitals across North Carolina.

In addition to best-in-breed technology and online tools, the organization also is guided by an experienced leadership team and a board of directors composed of some of the best networking minds and thought leaders in the country. MCNC also works with an advisory council to develop strategic initiatives for the organization as well as several working and focus groups open to NCREN users who counsel on network-specific matters.

Since the organization's new fiscal year began on July 1, MCNC has set forth five strategic priorities for broadband access in North Carolina through 2020, leveraging the expertise of MCNC and the power of NCREN. Steered by innovation, economic development, security, relationships with state government and thought leadership, MCNC is working to make North Carolina the most connected state in the country in the next four years by focusing on connecting more rural communities and areas of the state, providing service excellence, supporting the activation of a next-generation public safety network throughout the state, supporting North Carolina's digital transformation, and increasing overall NCREN community engagement.

"MCNC is a unique and exemplary leader in broadband connectivity and networking across North Carolina," said Tom Rabon, chairman of the MCNC Board of Directors. "This organization continues to prove it is much more than just an Internet provider, but a full-service technology resource that gives North Carolina a massive competitive advantage among other states while creating unprecedented opportunities for its citizens. MCNC has a positive and confident future ahead, which can only lead to more great things for our state."

About MCNC

MCNC, a technology nonprofit that builds, owns and operates the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), has served research, education, non-profit health care and other community institutions with Internet connectivity in the state for more than 30 years. NCREN is the fundamental broadband infrastructure for more than 500 of these institutions including all K-20 education in North Carolina. As one of the nation's premier middle-mile networks, MCNC leverages high-speed fiber on NCREN to customize Internet services and related applications for each customer while supporting private service providers in bringing cost-efficient connectivity to rural and underserved communities in North Carolina. Visit www.mcnc.org or connect on Facebook, @MCNC, YouTube, Google+, or LinkedIn.

MCNC Resources

• Video: MCNC President and CEO Jean Davis discusses MCNC's new strategic plan.
• MCNC Vision 2020: Read full Executive Summary of MCNC's new strategic plan via this web link.
• MCNC Newsroom: Learn more about MCNC through news clippings, photo galleries, and testimonials.
• Discover MCNC: Explore MCNC's operational areas and value-added services.
• MCNC Service Catalog: See current service offerings now available from MCNC.
• NCREN Map: Locate NCREN Community members on this interactive map.
• Case Studies: Read success stories from NCREN customers over the years.

Editorial Contact
Noah Garrett, NGC Communications, on behalf of MCNC: (252) 423.1277 or [email protected]

SOURCE MCNC

Related Links

http://www.mcnc.org