The ERC was named a finalist for the Communications Technology Company award by the North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA). The NC Tech Awards, held on November 6 in Raleigh, will highlight and recognize the “companies and individuals who have characterized excellence, innovation and leadership” in technology across the state. The Communications Technology Company award highlights a product or service that demonstrates industry leading performance and/or achieves a milestone of notable success.
The ERC is very proud of its long-term association with NCTA, and especially of this award nomination. Congratulations to the ERC team!
Asheville, NC (September 27, 2013) – Last night the Biltmore Beacon, in cooperation with the Young Professionals of Asheville, hosted its annual awards gala honoring forty of Asheville’s young leaders. Bradley Cain, the ERC’s Chief Operating Officer, was honored with a ‘40 Under Forty‘ award for his specific commitment to expanding the operations of the ERC as well for his commitment to the greater Asheville community through service on various Boards and committees. The ERC congratulates Bradley for receiving this honor and looks forward to his continued pursuit of excellence as part of the ERC team.
Asheville, NC (August 13, 2013)– Yesterday, MCNC, the nonprofit operator of the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), hosted a four city video conference entitled ‘Broadband for the Future’ to announce the completion of the second and final phase of the $144 million Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative (GLRBI). The GLRBI was funded through grants from the US Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). Significant matching funds – required to obtain the grants – came from groups such as the Golden LEAF Foundation ($24 million) and the MCNC Endowment ($10 million). The ERC, a private nonprofit broadband operator based in Asheville, was a subrecipient to MCNC for the GLRBI.
Held simultaneously at the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, UNC Charlotte, Elizabeth City State University, and the Research Triangle Park MCNC campus, the celebration highlighted many accomplishments such as: the extended NCREN fiber optic network; the enhanced innovation opportunities across the State; the expanded support for community anchor institutions; the increased opportunties for private sector partnerships.
Biltmore Farms CEO and ERC Board member Jack Cecil and ERC Executive Director Hunter Goosmann gave presentations at the event, along with Thomas Karl from the National Climatic Data Center. Other notable presenters included North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, NC Representative David Price, NC Congresswoman Renee Ellmers, NC Representative Jason Saine, and Golden LEAF Foundation CEO Dan Gerlach.
The ERC used its grant award to expand the ERC fiber optic footprint across western North Carolina, furthering its mission to increase broadband connectivity and technology adoption across WNC. For more information related to the ERC or the GLRBI, please call Jessica Stavish at (828) 350-2415 or email her at jstavish@ercwnc.org. You can also find us on the web at www.ercwnc.org. For more information on MCNC, visit www.mcnc.org.
Asheville, NC (June 6, 2013) – ERC is proud to be a part of the ‘Broadband Hero’ program. The NTIA recently honored 16 programs as broadband “heroes”. MCNC was named as the funds recipient for the Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative of which the ERC is a subrecipient. Click here (http://www.ntia.doc.gov/blog/2013/16-btop-projects-honored-broadband-heroes) for more information.
Asheville, NC (April 4, 2013) – ERC is proud to introduce its newest team members: Paul Ebbs, Charles “Bobby” Hough, and Jessica Stavish. Additionally, Bradley Cain has been promoted to the ERC’s Chief Operating Officer. Please see the PDF press release.
