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Tuesday, October 3, 2023
In North Carolina, broadband is key to delivering opportunity and improved quality of life to residents in both rural and underserved urban areas. MCNC, the operator of the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN) one of the nation’s oldest and largest Research and Education Networks (RENs), plays a pivotal role in bridging the digital divide and bringing together partners to foster equitable digital equity in communities across North Carolina.
In this session, you will learn about and discuss:
- MCNC’s innovative approach to leveraging grants and partnerships with universities and regional network providers to create an owned and expanding facilities-based provider service research, education, and healthcare network, while enabling commercial providers to expand in the area to provide enterprise and residential services.
- North Carolina’s partnership focus on connecting educational institutions and supporting robust digital learning environments.
- How we leverage broadband infrastructure to enhance healthcare in rural and underserved areas.
Moderator
Tracy Doaks is President & CEO of MCNC, the technology nonprofit focused on delivering high performance protected Internet and networking, cloud services, cybersecurity, and other essential technologies for communities throughout North Carolina. MCNC owns and manages nearly a 4,500-mile fiber optic infrastructure backbone, the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), that supports more than 900 community anchor institutions (CAIs) in all 100 counties.
Prior to joining MCNC in August 2020, Tracy was state chief information officer and secretary for the N.C. Department of Information Technology where she led the state agency responsible for all IT procurement, state cybersecurity, operational services, broadband infrastructure, solutions division, data analytics center, the N.C. 911 Board and strategic IT planning.
Tracy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University and then went on to earn her CIO certification from the UNC School of Government. Additionally, she received the 2018 Public CIO Award from NC TECH and the 2016 Distinguished Alumnus Award from North Carolina University’s Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. Most recently, Tracy was named the recipient of the Triangle Business Journal’s 2022 Women in Business Award for Nonprofit Leadership.
For more information, please visit Tracy’s LinkedIn or MCNC CEO’s Corner.
Panelists
Bo Coughlin, Chief Operating Officer, Fybe
Tommy Jacobson, COO, MCNC
Tracy Futhey, Chief Information Officer & Vice President, Duke University
Tracy Olson, CEO, NC Telehealth Network
Patrick Fleming, Chief Information Officer, NC Community Colleges
Nate Denny, North Carolina Deputy Secretary for Broadband & Digital Equity
A Series of State Case Study Virtual Workshops
Beginning in March of 2020, access to broadband became a social determinant of health, education, work, and economic security. The world realized that broadband Internet is a utility as essential as electricity and potable water.
While the federal government and many states have made a wise decision to provide billions in capital funding to achieve broadband equity, the tough part will be sustaining and maintaining (and, ideally evolving) these infrastructures over the next 5, 10, or 20 years.
With money going directly to states, territories, and indigenous Tribes, there are now 60 states and territories and 574 Tribal Nations, each organizing their own plan to implement broadband access and adoption in unique cultural, geographic, and demographic areas. This series will help you learn from some of the most progressive.