Broadband high-speed internet access

Mar 25, 2021

Director’s Log | March 2021

The Back End of the One-and-One Funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) is barreling toward North Carolina and I haven’t yet heard anyone saying no. Among other things, the… 

Jan 5, 2021

First in Future: Dan Barkin of Business NC

This episode of First in Future we hear from Dan Barkin of Business NC. As the former managing editor of The News & Observer, he has great insight and institutional knowledge about the rapid development of North Carolina, and we hear about his thoughts on broadband, which is a key issue on many minds these days. 

Nov 17, 2020

First in Future: The Ties That Bind Us (part 3) – Zachary Barricklow

This is part three of a three episode series of First in Future, where we focus on community, specifically what people and places in North Carolina are doing to make the places we live special. In the final part of our special focus on what transforms a place we live into a true community, we talk with Zach Barricklow of Wilkes Community College about the regional approach Wilkes, Ashe and Alleghany counties are taking to build off of their collective assets (especially high speed internet) to hold on to young people, retrain adults and attract new residents to the area. 

Nov 3, 2020

First in Future: The Ties That Bind Us (part 1) – Caroline Parker

This is part of a three episode series of First in Future, where we want to focus on community, specifically what people and places in North Carolina are doing to make the places we live special. This episode starts with the story of Hayesville, NC, in the far western corner of the state, and we talk with Caroline Parker of Education NC about her new series, "Anchored in Hayesville," about how the people in that community are working together to maintain their uniqueness and strength in a town that is "two hours from everywhere." 

Oct 27, 2020

First in Future: Mike Ward and Deanna Townsend-Smith

This First in Future episode's guests are, Mike Ward, the former state superintendent of public instruction and chair of the steering committee for the NC Education Corps and Deanna Townsend-Smith is director of operations and policy for the State Board of Education. 

Oct 13, 2020

First in Future: Maggie Woods

Recently, many have been trying to help our kids with digital homework, or our local government officials have been trying to figure out how to make our community more accessible or competitive in this digital world. This First in Future episode's guest is the Institute for Emerging Issues' own Maggie Woods, Policy and Program Manager, who is looking at the idea of "digital inclusion." She explores what a difference it can make for our state to take full advantage of high speed 

Oct 6, 2020

First in Future: Jess George

One of the most complicated challenges of the coronavirus has been the need for more broadband. It has been a challenge that the Institute for Emerging Issues has been working on for awhile. We have been working with the state Broadband Infrastructure Office to get grants out to school systems, nonprofits, and communities. Our First in Future guest this episode is Jess George, who represents one of the critical private investors in infrastructure, Google Fiber. Jess is their government and community affairs representative. 

Sep 21, 2020

First in Future: Cecilia Holden and Jeni Corn

Three years ago myFutureNC looked at NC’s future economy and came to the conclusion that to meet the needs of the future, we need more people with some sort of meaningful credential beyond high school. The Institute for Emerging Issues has been looking at this issue over the past few months, and we’re bringing together a big discussion of all those issues in a few days. This episode features the head of the nonprofit myFutureNC, Cecilia Holden and their research director, Jeni Corn. 

Aug 21, 2020

First in Future: Amy Huffman and Dawn Gibson

Summary: In August of 2020 the year was complicated. Universities were trying to have at least face-to-face classes, but it’s not clear that’s going to work out. About 70% of… 

Aug 13, 2020

How Can K-12 Learning Be Better This Fall?

Summary: Host Leslie Boney, Director, Institute for Emerging Issues, talks with special guests Eric Davis (Chair, State Board of Education), Eliz Colbert, Ed.D., (Executive Director, NC Virtual Public Schools), Terry…