CHARLOTTE, NC – May 11-12, 2010-Because of his regional expertise in rural broadband networks and relationships with USDA and the Appalachian Regional Commission, our general manager, Hunter Goosmann, was asked to moderate a broadband track for the 2010 Partnership for Rural America. For two days, Mr. Goosmann discussed multiple aspects of rural broadband, their effects on community development (or lack thereof), and opportunities to develop priorities and plans to improve connectivity. Three other tracks were offered: food systems, economic development, and energy respectively. There was great community participation in this conference and culminated in presentation of suggestions for improvement from each track. http://www.partnersforruralamerica.org/western.asp

ASHEVILLE, NC-April 26, 2010- ERCB General Manager Hunter Goosmann participated in SEATOA’s ninth annual conference (“Expanding Community Networks”). Topics discussed included financing community broadband networks, lessons learned from the second round of ARRA stimulus grants, public safety network technologies, State and Federal policy and legislative impacts on community broadband, and more. It was especially apropos to hear Tommy Jacobson of MCNC speak about their application and the effects it will have on western North Carolina. For more on SEATOA, go to http://www.seatoa.org/conferencetopics.html.