As the nation’s first state broadband authority, North Carolina’s e-NC has made a dramatic impact on broadband in the state. E-NC has been involved in every part of the broadband world from mapping and coordinating local groups looking to apply for stimulus funding to becoming a key partner in bringing fiber to North Carolina’s 100 school districts.

At the Knight Center of Digital Excellence, we feel the concept of state broadband authorities is key, but believe they must remain impartial organizations with the public good as their priority.

Similar to e-NC, OneCommunity, a nonprofit organization, serves Northern Ohio by connecting public and nonprofit institutions to its next-generation fiber-optic network. This connectivity enables institutions to offer enhanced, innovative solutions that can transform Northern Ohio’s image and economic future by attracting outside investment and creating business and job opportunities. OneCommunity operates the Knight Center through a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

An example of how OneCommunity is benefiting the Northern Ohio community was recently on display in Akron, as the city launched the first phase of its Connect Akron Wireless Network. The launch is the beginning of a build out that reflects two years of planning and partnership between the City of Akron and OneCommunity

While an initial build out will cover 10 square miles of Akron, city officials are hoping federal stimulus money will be available to extend wireless to the other 52 square miles of the city. OneCommunity is assisting Akron in its bid for broadband stimulus funds.

A state broadband authority provides a number of advantages. To start, a dedicated, state-level entity comprised of people dedicated solely to tackling the host of multifaceted issues that comes with broadband investment automatically realizes a heightened level of efficiency.

Why it does: A singular state authority is committed to broadband as its only issue, as opposed to one government agency that has broadband and multiple other issues on its plate.

Second, each state is different. A state entity has a distinct advantage over a federal agency in terms of knowing how to effectively encourage development and adoption within its own borders as well as a better idea of how to get local and regional groups to better coordinate.

Third, an entity working at the state level can best leverage federal support. A state authority has the ability to aggregate applications so that individual programs aren’t competing for the same funding.
The few states that have broadband authorities have seen those organizations make a substantial impact on getting communities connected.

OneCommunity and e-NC are excellent examples of agencies that have already helped their respective areas gain major ground in getting connected. It’s definitely worthwhile for other states to see what similar organizations can do.