WRAL Tech Wire

 Broadband helps NC reach for the stars through mountain institute

High-speed connectivity and new data center capabilities at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute near Asheville are allowing people all over the world to access some the best scientific instruments available today for research and education in one of the most remote locations found in North Carolina.

Broadband at PARI

 National 'Big Data' consortium launches at UNC; IBM, SAS, Cisco are members

A national Big Data consortium is launching from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Renaissance Computing Institute with the goal of identifying problems with and finding solutions for working with large amounts of data.

 Software Defined Networking has potential to reshape data networks

Analysis: Mark Johnson, chief technology officer at MCNC which operates the statewide North Carolina Research and Education Network, believes SDN will enable smarter networks for "cloud" computing and data management.

Open Daylight project digram explains SDN

 North Carolina in prime position for new broadband economy

Broadband is a vital piece of infrastructure for North Carolina's economy in 2013 and will be even more critical by 2030. If we all can work together now, North Carolina can add the "Fast Broadband State" to its "Good Roads State" moniker, according to MCNC President and CEO Joe Freddoso.

MCNC's NCREN plan

 MCNC's broadband effort wins national award

MCNC has been named to the 2013 class of IDG's Computerworld Honors Program. This annual award honors entities that use IT to promote positive social, economic and educational change.

MCNC'S new NCREN map

 More school IT leaders entering ed CTO program

North Carolina is leading the nation through the Certified Educational Chief Technology Officer (CeCTO) program, which kicked off its fourth year last month.

 Testifying before Congress: Defending national, MCNC broadband plans

MCNC's chief executive testified before a House subcommittee last week in Washington focused on the federally-backed Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. This story shares his experience.

 Republicans attack, Democrats defend broadband program

At a House hearing to debate the merits of a national broadband infrastructure program - including a major network initiative in North Carolina - members of both parties throw bombs at each other. Are you surprised?

 MCNC top exec to defend broadband projects before Congress

Joe Freddoso, chief executive officer of MCNC which is building a statewide broadband network with the assistance of federal funding, is testifying in Washington today before a committee whose chairman says the nationwide program is wasting money on equipment and fiber-optic networks.

MCNC'S new NCREN map

 Healthcare Connect Fund fuels new life in NC

The FCC unveiled earlier this month a new $400 million fund to support the deployment of broadband-enabled health care technologies. This new program builds upon an existing pilot plan helping to further advance the current efforts of health care networks across the country, including the North Carolina TeleHealth Network.

 Broadband preparedness: Is NC ready for the big data tidal wave?

Day 12 of the 12 Days of Broadband: Fast broadband is rumbling on big data's horizons while big bandwidth is necessary to spur innovation and productivity. Is North Carolina's broadband infrastructure ready for this explosion of data as information begins to arrive from everywhere at any time?

Second Annual 12 Days of Broadband

 High-speed Internet essential to today's public library

Internet access at public libraries is a valuable asset for economic recovery. It is the most sought-after public library service available today and is used by more than half of all library visitors nationwide, which is why this story kicks off the final week as Day 8 of this MCNC's second annual 12 Days of Broadband.

Second Annual 12 Days of Broadband

 NC's statewide network receives upgrades in 2012

12 Days of Broadband Day 6: The North Carolina Research and Education network received several key advancements in February 2012 including HD videoconferencing, TelePresence, Movi, and other managed/shared services along with an upgraded NCREN Services Catalog now offered by MCNC.

Second Annual 12 Days of Broadband

 MCNC a 'Champion of Change' for broadband efforts

12 Days of Broadband: MCNC CEO Joe Freddoso and Merit Network President and CEO Donald Welch were among 11 leaders honored at the White House as "Champions of Change" in February 2012 highlighting community leaders for the work they are doing to serve and strengthen their communities.

 North Carolina adds 25 certified educational CTOs in 2012

12 Days of Broadband, Day 4: Twenty-three school technology directors in North Carolina along with two representatives from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) successfully completed the 2012 Certified Educational Chief Technology Officer (CeCTO) program in 2012 offered through a partnership between NCDPI, UNC School of Government's Center for Public Technology, and MCNC. Now that the program has finished its third year, North Carolina currently has a total of 83 CeCTOs in action throughout the state.

 Demand for Internet continues to rise in education

12 Days of Broadband, Day 3: Internet connectivity in education is explored. Many see the demand for bandwidth in education skyrocketing in the near future, especially with Common Core standards soon to take effect.

Second Annual 12 Days of Broadband

 Broadband in NC: Today's health care requires fast networks

12 Days of Broadband, Day 2: MCNC takes a look at health care and how the North Carolina TeleHealth Network (NCTN) is serving the high-bandwidth, low-latency network needs of health practitioners and researchers throughout North Carolina to help find the next great cure.

Second Annual 12 Days of Broadband

 NCREN, the state's broadband highway, nears completion

Day 1, MCNC's 12 Days of Broadband: The first phase of expanding the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN) through the Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative was complete in April. The second and final phase of the project is scheduled for completion in spring 2013. This historic project for North Carolina is the first day of MCNC's 12 Days of Broadband.

MCNC'S new NCREN map

 The 12 Days of Broadband return to North Carolina

The second annual 12 Days of Broadband begins this week highlighting a dozen innovations this year directly impacted by the expanding reach of high-speed connectivity in North Carolina.

Second Annual 12 Days of Broadband

 Broadband's future in North Carolina? It's bright, event shows

In looking ahead to a better networked future, "The secret sauce is the connectivity in North Carolina," says Brooks Raiford, chief executive officer of the North Carolina Technology Association.

Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012