Governor Cooper Launches Initiative to Increase Broadband Connectivity

Governor Cooper Launches Initiative to Increase Broadband Connectivity

Executive Order No. 91 Continues North Carolina’s Work to Implement High-Speed Internet Across the State

Raleigh

Mar 14, 2019

Governor Cooper today issued Executive Order No. 91,

PDF download here: https://files.nc.gov/governor/documents/files/EO91_BROADBAND-TASK_FORCE_ON_CONNECTING_NC.pdf

to increase internet access across North Carolina including through a new Governor’s Task Force on Connecting North Carolina. The order directs state government leaders to identify and remove barriers to affordable, high-speed internet access, eliminate the homework gap that results from students not having internet access, and facilitate private-sector deployment of last-mile infrastructure.

“In today’s schools and workplaces, high-speed internet is not optional. Too many North Carolinians lack internet access they need to apply for jobs, do homework or run a small business. We must address this digital divide to give every community in North Carolina an equal opportunity to thrive using today’s technology,” said Governor Cooper.

The creation of the Connecting NC Task Force follows specific recommendations Governor Cooper laid out in his budget proposal, Investments for a Determined North Carolina, to expand access to high-speed internet.

Governor Cooper’s budget includes $35 million for efforts to expand access to broadband internet service. To encourage private providers to bring broadband service to underserved areas, the Governor’s plan allocates $30 million for the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) program. His budget also creates a program to help close the homework gap for students across the state without home internet access by investing $5 million in grants to provide mobile hotspots and devices such as laptops or tablets. Read more about Governor Cooper’s plan to connect North Carolina online.

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PDF download:
http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=&msgid=0&act=111111&c=1346310&destination=https%3A%2F%2Ffiles.nc.gov%2Fgovernor%2Fdocuments%2Ffiles%2FBroadband_Budget_Fact_Sheet_.pdf

More at the link.

https://governor.nc.gov/news/governor-cooper-launches-initiative-increase-broadband-connectivity

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Contact Information
Ford Porter
govpress@nc.gov
919-814-2100

Contact Information
North Carolina Office of the Governor

20301 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-0301
(919) 814-2000

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"Eric Boyette, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Information Technology and State Chief Information Officer, will chair the new task force."

Eric Boyette

Secretary and State Chief Information Officer
Eric Boyette serves as Secretary and State Chief Information Officer for the North Carolina Department of Information Technology. He was appointed to the position in April 2017 by Governor Roy Cooper and confirmed by the state General Assembly soon thereafter. In this role, he leads the state department responsible for all IT procurement, state cybersecurity, operational services, broadband infrastructure, solutions division, data analytics center, the 911 Board, and strategic IT planning.

Eric has over 20 years of experience in state government. Prior to his current role, he held several leadership roles in the North Carolina Department of Transportation, including Chief Information Officer, Inspector General, and Division of Motor Vehicles Commissioner. He has also served as the DIT Deputy State Chief Information Officer for Solution Delivery.

He currently serves as Chair of the North Carolina 911 Board; as an executive committee member for the National Association of State CIOs; and is a member of both the Governor’s North Carolina Board of Science, Technology & Innovation and the Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs.

Boyette earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) from Barton College and resides in Kenly, N.C., with wife, Dana; son, Jay; and daughter, Morgan.

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Contact
North Carolina Department of Information Technology
PO Box 17209
Raleigh, NC 27619-7209

919-754-6000
Toll Free
800-722-3946
@NCDIT on Twitter

https://it.nc.gov/about/leadership/eric-boyette