1. Broadband in Yancey County Wanda J. Proffitt Jamie McMahan

2. Burnsville Asheville Burnsville

3. Population Burnsville – 1,669 (2013) Yancey County – 17,566 (2013) Yancey & Mitchell Counties – Tier 2 Counties

4. Project Beginning January 2009 Yancey County Hosted Economic Summit Economic Summit Jane Patterson, Executive Director, e-NC Authority

5. Yancey County Broadband Task Force, Jamie McMahan, Chair Local Government Education Regional Library System Health Care Public Safety Economic Development Agriculture Real Estate Arts & Crafts Local Business

6. Broadband Task Force Duties Studied existing internet in the County Explored potential solutions to improve and extend access to un-served and underserved areas Conducted meetings w/local internet service providers, operators of regional networks, state and federal agencies, neighboring county governments, and others to formulate plan to improve high speed internet service to citizens.

7. Provider + Financing Country Cablevision – President Ray Miller Financial Interest + Community Dedication Worked co-operatively w/AdvantageWest, French Broad Electric and ERC and installed fiber optic service to schools, libraries, offices, businesses and homes serviced by Country Cablevision in Yancey and Mitchell Counties US Federal Government – American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – 2009 (AARA or the Economic Stimulus Bill) - USDA/RUS

8. Middle Mile ERC – Western NC Regional community focused broadband network based in Asheville, NC that serves to expand technology in Western NC was sub recipient of Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant through MCNC and NC Commerce (project serves five (5) counties). Many lacked the middle mile infrastructure. This middle mile expansion provides redundancy. Golden Leaf Foundation provided matching funds for this project.

9. Last Mile Ray Miller said, “I view this funding for high speed internet as being very similar to the government REA program that funded the delivery of electric service to rural areas in 1930s, and telephone service in the 1940s and 1950s. Without this government support, it would be very difficult, if not impossible for any company to justify making such an investment in a rural area”. CCVN Strategic Plans – High Speed Fiber Optic system to every home in Yancey and Mitchell Counties – last mile

10. Collaboration Private/Public Partnership – Expansion and New Project Co-operative efforts with many individuals, Local, State & Federal Governments (Yancey County Commissioners, Yancey County Broadband Task Force, Mitchell County Commissioners, Yancey County School System, Mayland Community College, Mayland Regional Library System, Blue Ridge Hospital Systems, Yancey and Mitchell Chambers of Commerce, Yancey County Economic Development Commission, Yancey-Mitchell Board of Realtors and others.

11. Funding USDA/RUS $$$ Invested by Company - $6,324,250 $$$ Invested through Rural Utility Service - $18,975,750 Funded late 2010 Funded late 2010

12. Yancey County Technology Center 1 Gigabit free to the public

14. Thanks To: Gov. Beverly Perdue embarked on public-private partnership through MCNC to construct new fiber cable networks to connect community anchor institutions (Universities, community colleges, schools, libraries, county offices and more), plus she supported this project. Senator Kay Hagan Congressman Heath Shuler Director, Western NC – Gov. Perdue, Juleigh Sitton Juleigh Sitton Golden Leaf Foundation Ray Miller and Country Cablevision

16. No Joke

17. Natural Beauty + High Tech Access For Future Growth

18. Yancey County, Burnsville, NC Last…Not Least (Yancey County was next to last in state to get 4-lane Highway & First in NC to have fiber to the home!