 North Carolina claims to be one of the first states to develop a map of broadband service availability, which enables it to distinguish DSL and cable services. Its e-NC Authority was set up in 2001 with the aim of linking all North Carolinians, especially those in rural areas, to an affordable internet service. In addition to undertaking mapping, it developed telecenters in economically distressed areas so that residents could access broadband internet services.
The work of the e-NC Authority has been generally praised but it has come under fire from Connect North Carolina, which maintains that its own maps are at a more detailed level. Information has been obtained from 30 internet providers to develop street level maps, with results showing 241,000 North Carolina households having no access to a high speed service. However, many critics dismiss the various Connected Network derivatives as representing various ISPs.
The outcome is that both bodies have received NTIA grants for mapping projects, with e-NC getting $2,023,874 while Connect North Carolina was awarded $1.7 million. The Mountain Area Information Network (MAIN), a non-profit internet provider, teamed up with several companies to apply for stimulus funds. MAIN already delivers wireless internet access to western North Carolina and has put together a regional plan that includes a fiber optic cable network for rural communities.
North Carolina's average download speed was 4.5 mbps in 2009, putting it 33rd, although this was improved from 3.5 mbps the previous year. Wifi hotspots are well-distributed across the state although with large gaps between highly populated areas. A bill that would have banned municipal broadband deployment was deferred for further study in May 2009.
The climate of North Carolina is variable, with coastal areas tending to have moderate temperatures throughout the year. Inland regions have hotter summers and colder winters and the mountain areas are coldest. From a technological advancement stance, the state was the site of the first powered flight by the Wright brothers in 1903.
North Carolina has been badly affected by manufacturing moving abroad, particularly textile and furniture factories in smaller towns. It remains the largest textile manufacturer in the US and is a national leader in agriculture, financial services and manufacturing. Charlotte is the largest city followed by Raleigh, the state capital, Greensboro and Durham.
Cities in North Carolina likely to have, or soon to receive, fiber optic cable internet services include Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Durham, Fayetteville, Cary, High Point, Wilmington and Hickory. Locations in NC with highest population counts will be targeted first by providers, though relatively high speeds can be achieved with dial-up or DSL through companies such as Netzero and Charter Communications Cable.
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Coverage Unlikely
