en.Wedoany.com Reported - MCNC announced the completion of the HERO (High Speed Economies for Rural Opportunity) project, with a total investment of approximately $19 million, extending 209 fiber miles across 11 counties in central and southeastern North Carolina, providing high-speed internet infrastructure to rural and economically disadvantaged areas in the state.
The project originated from the federal "Internet for All" initiative launched in 2022. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced this $45 billion bipartisan investment on May 16, 2022, administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). MCNC submitted a funding application in September 2022, planning to extend the network through two strategic routes: one from Albemarle to Winston-Salem (74 miles), and another from Sanford via Fayetteville to Jacksonville (135 miles). MCNC is the only research and education network in the U.S. to receive standalone funding. On June 16, 2023, MCNC received a grant of $11,186,162.82 from the NTIA, with $2,672,234 in matching funds from the Golden LEAF Foundation and $5,101,201 from MCNC itself. The project broke ground on September 5, 2024, at Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) and was completed by June 2026, bringing MCNC's total network operational mileage to 4,745 miles.
The HERO project positively impacts over 350,000 housing units and 696 community anchor institutions. The 11 counties covered by the project previously had more than 16,000 unserved housing units and 12,000 underserved housing units. Combined with MCNC's own investment and continued support from the Golden LEAF Foundation, the HERO project invested a total of $19 million in high-speed internet and technology services for the state. This expansion supported many construction and engineering jobs during the build phase and enhances future affordability strategies for last-mile commercial providers in these communities.
MCNC President and CEO Tracy Doaks stated that the continued support from the NTIA, the Golden LEAF Foundation, and its own stakeholders makes this project very special for MCNC and a game-changer for economic growth and success in local communities. MCNC Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Tommy Jacobson added that the true impact of the HERO project lies in the rural areas between towns, which have the greatest need for middle-mile infrastructure. By strengthening this foundation, every community in North Carolina can be ensured to have the necessary resources to thrive, learn, and succeed. North Carolina Department of Information Technology Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Nate Denny noted that high-speed internet is critical for education, healthcare access, and economic growth, and completing the HERO project is a significant milestone in bridging the digital divide.
About MCNC: MCNC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit technology organization founded in 1980. MCNC owns and operates the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), one of the longest-running regional research and education networks in the U.S. MCNC provides high-performance services to education, research, libraries, healthcare, public safety, and other community anchor institutions in North Carolina, with NCREN serving as the foundational broadband infrastructure for these entities, including all public K-20 education in the state. MCNC leverages NCREN to deliver customized protected internet, cybersecurity services, and related applications for clients, and supports private service providers in offering cost-effective connectivity to rural and underserved communities in the state.
