Why Fiber? In NC Broadband Matters’ last Zoomcast event, we addressed the differences between fiber and wireless broadband networks, but we just skimmed the surface on the real cost of fiber, including the cost of not deploying it. In this Zoomcast, we will take a real-world deep dive into the costs (and methods) of building a fiber network and discuss short and long-term pros and cons versus other media. We’ll also hear from local providers on why they chose fiber to the home as their infrastructure of choice in a world increasingly dependent on ever-growing upstream and downstream communications capacity demands.
11-12:15 p.m.
Moderator: Doug Dawson, CCG Consulting, Asheville, NC
Speakers:
Mark Boxer, Technical Manager, OFS
Gene Scott, General Manager, OSP, Wilson Greenlight, Wilson, NC
Greg Coltrain, Vice President of Business Development, Riverstreet, LLC, Wilkes, NC
Register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZS6zUtIGSQC9GIcPNV-1yw
Sponsored by OFS:
Broadband Tech Topics Zoomcast: The Real Cost of Fiber
February 22, 2021
11:00 – 12:15 p.m.
| Access to fiber broadband networks is the gold standard when planning your broadband networks. But so often going for the best is described as “expensive,” and so underserved communities are told to think about “wireless.” What does that mean? Does this approach just set up a new digital divide? Join our NCBM Board technology experts to learn what the real difference is between these technologies, how “future-proof” each is, and the truth that almost every wireless network relies on fiber to get the job done.
11:00 – 12:15 p.m. Moderator: Doug Dawson, CCG Consulting Speakers: Gene Scott, General Manager, Wilson Greenlight Community Broadband Mark Boxer, Technical Director, Optical Fiber Solutions (OFS) Alan Fitzpatrick, Open Broadband Register Here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kIkNraniSoa27DjWgjqnGw |
Broadband Tech Topics Zoomcast: What is the Difference Between Fiber and Wireless?
January 19, 2021
11:00 – 12:15 p.m.
| Average home upload usage grew 58% in the last year. What does that mean for community broadband planning? Join Doug Dawson, Gene Scott and Mark Boxer from NC Broadband Matters to learn WHY upstream matters, and how you can factor this critical element into your local broadband plan.
Register Here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hnbXk1JxQMiN9fis7VI5Ww Sponsored by Wilson Greenlight Community Broadand:
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Broadband Tech Topics: The Upload Crisis
November 17, 2020
Please join the Southwestern Commission, the Land of Sky Council and NC Broadband Matters in a virtual conversation about regional broadband issues and needs in Western North Carolina. This information sharing and learning session will address local issues with targeted information. Join us!
Experienced broadband planners and strategists Deb Watts with Broadband Catalysts (http://broadbandcatalysts.com/) and Doug Dawson with CCG Consulting (http://www.ccgcomm.com/) will lead the discussion.
Register through GoToMeeting at this link.
Sponsored by:
Broadband 101 Plus
with Land of Sky Council and Southwestern Commission
August 10, 2020
The Agenda:
+ Tying it all together: optimizing return on investment through integrated attention to access, adoption and use.
+ Attracting providers: practical and achievable steps for communities
+ Best practices for assessing and addressing digital readiness, plus what’s needed in a regional broadband plan to attract grant funds
+ Pursuing multi-layered funding strategies via new options with federal, state and private partners
Experienced broadband planners and strategists Deb Watts with Broadband Catalysts (http://broadbandcatalysts.com/) and Doug Dawson with CCG Consulting (http://www.ccgcomm.com/) will lead the discussion.
Register through GoToWebinar at this link.
Sponsored by:
Broadband Planning: From Vision to Action
June 1, 2020
1:00-2:30 p.m.
The Agenda:
+ The North Carolina context: what local governments and communities must know to move their broadband plan forward, plus what is and is not allowable under North Carolina laws.
+ Sourcing better data: documenting need and impact to drive better decisions and attract partners, plus the best strategies and tools for collecting and communicating data in formats customized to target audiences.
+ How to address the homework gap and rural telehealth applications
Experienced broadband planners, strategists and data crunchers Deb Watts and Brian Rathbone with Broadband Catalysts (http://broadbandcatalysts.com/) will lead the discussion, with guest speaker Erin Wynia, Chief Legislative Counsel, NC League of Municipalities to update us on broadband legislative issues.
Register through GoToWebinar at this link.
Better Broadband with Better Data + the N.C. Policy Context
May 18, 2020
1-2:30 pm
Please join the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments and NC Broadband Matters in a curated VIRTUAL conversation about regional broadband issues and needs in Northeast North Carolina. This information sharing and learning session will address local issues with targeted information. Join us!
Experienced broadband planners and strategists Deb Watts with Broadband Catalysts (http://broadbandcatalysts.com/) and Doug Dawson with CCG Consulting (http://www.ccgcomm.com/) will lead the discussion.
Register through GoToMeeting at this link.
Sponsored by CloudWyze
Broadband 101 Plus
with Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments
May 8, 2020
April 20
Please join the Piedmont Triad Regional Council and NC Broadband Matters in a curated VIRTUAL conversation about regional broadband issues and needs for Central North Carolina. This information sharing and learning session will address local issues with targeted information. Join us!
Experienced broadband planners and strategists Deb Watts with Broadband Catalysts (http://broadbandcatalysts.com/) and Doug Dawson with CCG Consulting (http://www.ccgcomm.com/) will lead the discussion.
Register through GotoWebinar at this link.
Sponsored in part by BaiCells — helping to bring high speed internet access to rural North Carolina communities
Broadband 101 Plus
with Piedmont Triad Regional Council
April 20, 2020
NC HEARTS GIGABIT 2ND ANNUAL INTERACTIVE
April 26, 2019
“Digital connectivity is the glue of the modern American economy. Yet for all of broadband’s economic benefits, the country continues to face a significant digital divide at the household level.” (Brookings Institution, 2017)
Let’s do something about it, because NC Broadband Matters. Join us in Raleigh for the second annual NC Hearts Gigabit Interactive, a showcase of solutions demonstrating why access to modern broadband matters to rural and urban vitality, workforce development, and leadership in technology innovation as a state. Let’s power the future of local communities in North Carolina!
NC HEARTS GIGABIT 2nd ANNUAL INTERACTIVE
Rural Center
April 26, 2019
#LETSCONNECTNC
Albemarle, Fuquay-Varina, Jacksonville
January 28-30, 2019
All North Carolina residents deserve affordable and reliable broadband access. NC Broadband Matters, NC League of Municipalities and the Institute for Local Self Reliance host a series of local conversations about improving Internet access for everyone. Events in Albemarle, Fuquay-Varina and Jacksonville. Event recap here.
#LETSCONNECTNC
Albemarle, Fuquay-Varina, Jacksonville
January 28-30, 2019
CLIC-NC MUNI FIBER LUNCH
Salisbury, NC (by invitation)
December 6. 2018
Regular community meet-up event to share stories on progress in Gigabit Internet deployment in NC. With presentations from City of Salisbury partner Hotwire Communications, providers Open Broadband and RiverStreet Networks, and digital inclusion organizations, Kramden Institute and E2D. Legislative update from NC League of Municipalities.
CLIC-NC MUNI FIBER LUNCH
Salisbury, NC (by invitation)
December 6. 2018
NORTH CAROLINA HEARTS GIGABIT: AN INTERACTIVE IDEA EXCHANGE
NC Rural Economic Development Center, Raleigh
April 20, 2018
What steps does North Carolina need to take now to grow digitally connected and economically resilient local communities? The inaugural conference of NC Broadband Matters will feature inspiring broadband network deployment success stories from around the state: how to build it, finance it and use it to deepen local cultures of connectivity and productivity for the 21st century. Attendees will benefit from hearing a playbook of actionable steps they can take back to advance their own local broadband and economic development agendas.
NORTH CAROLINA HEARTS GIGABIT: AN INTERACTIVE IDEA EXCHANGE
NC Rural Economic Development Center, Raleigh
April 20, 2018
GigWow
TechWorks, Belmont, NC
March 21, 2018
Join TechWorks Gaston and Mozilla Foundation for a GigWOW workshop that will delve into the promise of the high-speed internet network currently under development in Gaston County. Help define the impact of this network on the community and see a live demo with a local business. Reception afterward at Riverman Brewery.
GIGWOW EXPERIENCE: SEE WHAT’S POSSIBLE WITH A LOW LATENCY GIGABIT-SPEED INTERNET CONNECTION
TechWorks, Belmont, NC
March 21, 2018
CLIC-NC MUNI FIBER LUNCH
Charlotte, NC (by invitation)
January 24, 2018
Local and regional leaders gather to discuss gigabit broadband deployment throughout North Carolina. Reps from Charlotte-area digital inclusion, workforce training and youth engagement initiatives present on their efforts at the Google Fiber space in downtown Charlotte.
CLIC-NC MUNI FIBER LUNCH
Charlotte, NC (by invitation)
January 24, 2018
CAPTURE THE FLAG: AN ETHICAL CYBERSECURITY HACK FOR BEGINNERS
Wilson, NC
November 4, 2017
Gig Cities Wilson, NC and Westminster, MD host a dual-location, ethical cybersecurity hackathon competition to showcase the power of a gig network for work and play, innovation and entrepreneurship, and community and economic development. Preference to play given to high school and college age students. Link to registration page here.
CAPTURE THE FLAG: AN ETHICAL CYBERSECURITY HACK FOR BEGINNERS
Wilson, NC
November 4, 2017
AN ACTION PLAN FOR LOCAL INTERNET CHOICE IN 2017 AND BEYOND
Atlanta, GA
November 7, 2017
Communities across America have come to realize that success in the years ahead increasingly depends on the ability to acquire affordable access to fiber-rich communications networks. How will they get there? Who can help? Discuss these important topics and hear from keynote speaker Gary Bolles, Director of the Future of Work program at Singularity University.
Co-located with the Broadband Communities Economic Development Conference series. Learn more.
Photo by freddie marriage on Unsplash
AN ACTION PLAN FOR LOCAL INTERNET CHOICE IN 2017 AND BEYOND
Atlanta, GA
November 7, 2017
EVOLUTION OF A SMART CITY WITH SPECIAL GUEST SUSAN CRAWFORD
Wilson, NC
Nov, 1 2017
As the smart cities movement spreads across the U.S., Wilson, N.C. proves that businesses and citizens in major metropolitan cities are not the only beneficiaries of gigabit technology and the innovation it fosters.
No matter the size, architecting a smart city is a community effort requiring a shared vision and unwavering focus. This WRAL TechWire Executive Exchange convenes city, industry, and academic leaders in the heart of downtown Wilson to share strategies and ideas powering North Carolina cities like Wilson in their journey to become even smarter and more connected.
Follow this link to register.
EVOLUTION OF A SMART CITY WITH SPECIAL GUEST SUSAN CRAWFORD
Wilson, NC
Nov, 1 2017
CLIC-NC MUNI FIBER LUNCH
Cary, NC (by invitation)
September 26, 2017
Discussion on NC H.B. 310 (the “Wireless Act”) and its impact on local control over poles and rights-of-way, regional fiber network collaboration, and an educational campaign for North Carolina’s fiber future.
CLIC-NC MUNI FIBER LUNCH
Cary, NC (by invitation)
September 26, 2017
CLIC-NC MUNI FIBER LUNCH
Wilkesboro, NC (by invitation)
June 22, 2017
GIGABIT 101 WORKSHOP WITH MOZILLA FOUNDATION AND GOOGLE FIBER
Charlotte, NC
June 8, 2017
Mozilla talks with Charlotte area workforce and economic development leaders about high-speed gigabit Internet connectivity and what can be done with it.
GIGABIT 101 WORKSHOP WITH MOZILLA FOUNDATION AND GOOGLE FIBER
Charlotte, NC
June 8, 2017
CLIC-NC MUNI FIBER LUNCH
Holly Springs, NC (by invitation)
February 9, 2017
Broadband Catalysts share their alternative broadband availability map and TING Internet and Holly Springs talk about public/private development options.
CLIC-NC MUNI FIBER LUNCH
Holly Springs, NC (by invitation)
February 9, 2017
CLIC-NC MUNI FIBER LUNCH
Wake County, NC (by invitation)
December 9, 2016
North Carolina Broadband Infrastructure Office provides overview of newly-released Connecting North Carolina, the state’s broadband strategic plan, and pathways to building municipal disaster recovery networks discussed.
CLIC-NC MUNI FIBER LUNCH
Wake County, NC (by invitation)
December 9, 2016