The North Carolina Rural Internet Access Authority

e-NC is the grassroots initiative to link all North Carolinians – especially those in rural areas – to the Internet.

The purpose of the e-NC initiative is to use the Internet as a tool for helping people to improve their quality of life. Affordable
Internet service will provide North Carolinians with increased access to commerce, health care, education and government
services. Through the Internet, rural North Carolinians can utilize resources not located in their areas, contact friends and
experts, grow their businesses and increase their personal knowledge – while preserving the lifestyle that is an integral
part of who they are.

By encouraging North Carolinians to use the Internet and providing opportunities for them to gain new skills, e-NC is
building connected communities and a more economically competitive state. Increased ties between citizens and
neighbors, between rural and developed areas and between businesses and communities will help prepare North
Carolina for a brighter, more prosperous future.

The e-NC initiative is being led by the Rural Internet Access Authority. The authority was created on August 2, 2000, by the
N.C. General Assembly and began operation in January 2001. Its members are appointed by the General Assembly and
the Governor. e-NC operates with support from a coalition that includes the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, the
legislature and state government, the telecommunications industry, non-profit organizations and individuals.

The goals of the Rural Internet Access Authority and the e-NC initiative include the following:

To provide local dial-up Internet access from every telephone exchange in North Carolina within one year (achieved in
August 2001)

To provide high-speed Internet access at competitive prices (at least 128K for residential customers and at least 256K
for business customers) to all North Carolinians within three years;

To significantly increase the numbers of individuals, businesses and organizations who own computers and computer
devices and who subscribe to the Internet;

To establish telecenters located in the state’s most economically distressed areas;

To establish a web site to provide North Carolinians with complete information on Internet and telecommunications
services, how they can be obtained and what kinds of services will be available in the future;

To develop Internet applications that improve government services in areas such as education and health care – and
that make it easier and more convenient for citizens to receive services;

To encourage all potential Internet service providers to participate in the effort, regardless of the technologies they
employ (telephone, cable, wireless, satellite); and

To recommend to the Governor and General Assembly actions to improve Internet access statewide.

http://www.e-nc.org/