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BAND-NC

Jan 12, 2023

New $6.3M Grant Will Help Institute for Emerging Issues, Partners Expand Broadband Access in 12 Appalachian States

IEI is one of 12 local partners that will work with Connect Humanity to help 50 communities in 12 Appalachian states connect all residents with affordable, high-speed broadband. 

A speaker stands at a podium to address a room of people.

Oct 26, 2022

Planning for Digital Inclusion in North Carolina

Samantha Graham reflects on her first two months as BAND-NC Director and the work ahead to getting a digital inclusion plan in every county in NC. 

Sep 28, 2022

Interim Director’s Log | September 2022

Let’s DIY, Together To know me is to know that I love a good project. Whether it’s a fall-themed craft out of wood scraps (thank you Pinterest), a new shelving… 

Samantha Graham headshot

Sep 19, 2022

IEI Welcomes New Policy and Program Manager Samantha Graham

Get to know IEI's new Policy and Program Manager Samantha Graham in this brief Q&A! 

A large sheet of paper with a digital inclusion brain mapping activity written on it

Sep 19, 2022

Institute for Emerging Issues Receives $250,000 to Continue Digital Inclusion Efforts in Rural NC Communities

IEI has received a $250,000 grant from the John M. Belk Endowment to support the institute’s BAND-NC program, which works with communities across the state to bridge North Carolina’s digital divide. 

A woman and man stand at the front of a conference room, giving a powerpoint presentation to a group of people seated at tables

Aug 15, 2022

Digital Inclusion Planning Begins in NC’s High Country

North Carolina’s High Country is the latest region in the state embarking on the journey to close the digital divide thanks to IEI's Building a New Digital Economy (BAND-NC) program.  

Jul 28, 2022

Interim Director’s Log | July 2022

State Budgets, Summer Camp, Students and More! The dog days of summer have arrived in North Carolina, bringing with them a newly passed state budget, planning for IEI’s third year… 

Close up African American male hands typing on laptop keyboard

May 25, 2022

3 Things You Can Do as a Rural Faith Leader to Address the Digital Divide

We’ve been talking about faith leaders and digital inclusion for a while at IEI, and there’s been even more exciting opportunities (and funding!) to help you as a faith leader help folks connect to each other, to services they need, to jobs, and more. 

Groups of people sit around tables in the community room of a public library

May 25, 2022

Southwestern Commission leads WNC in digital inclusion planning process

The Southwestern Commission held two events May 16-17 to kick off the digital inclusion planning process for seven Western North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. 

May 13, 2022

Foothills Regional Commission launches digital inclusion planning process

The Foothills Regional Commission held a virtual event on April 28 to mark the start of its process to create digital inclusion plans for four Western NC counties: Cleveland, McDowell, Polk and Rutherford.