Orange County NC Website
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32 <br /> <br />• Late 2015 – The Orange Public + Education Network (OPEN) formed to foster <br />collaboration and cost-sharing among Orange County and its municipalities. <br />• August 2015 – The County’s Broadband Survey closed. <br />• June 2015 – The County’s Broadband Survey was released. <br />• Apr. 2015 – The Broadband Initiative resident group was formed. <br />• November 2014 – The Manager directed County staff to make a concerted effort to <br />engage residents in broadband discussions. <br />• June 2014 – January 2016 – Orange County leveraged its relationship with Time <br />Warner resulting in Time Warner extending its wireless hotspots network throughout <br />downtown Hillsborough and into Fairview and Cedar Grove Parks. Prior to the County’s <br />contact, Time Warner reported it was only going to deliver hotspot services to Durham <br />and Chapel Hill. This service allows any individual to connect wirelessly throughout <br />downtown Hillsborough and the parks for free. <br />• 2011 – North Carolina House Bill 129 barred governments from using public funds to <br />become Internet Service Providers. <br />• 2010 – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) publishes its National <br />Broadband Plan. <br />• 2010 – MCNC awarded federal funds for middle-mile network in rural NC. <br />• 2009 – The US Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus bill included a provision to <br />make loans to states for the purpose of broadband. <br /> <br />Broadband Initiatives & Event Timeline <br />Item 7 -b <br /> <br />2009 Stimulus Act Starts the Ball Rolling <br />• MCNC receives funds to improve their middle-mile network ~ 2010 <br />• FCC publishes National Broadband Plan for every American to have “access to <br />broadband capability.” ~ 2010 <br />• NC House Bill 129 bars local governments from providing broadband using public <br />funds. ~ 2011 <br /> <br />Orange County Action <br />• All public buildings have free WiFi Orange_Public_WiFi ~ 2013 <br />• Time Warner installs free wireless in Hillsborough and points north ~ 2014 <br />o Downtown <br />o Cedar Grove Community Center <br />o Fairview Park <br /> <br />More Orange County Action <br />• Manager directs staff to engage with the State and our residents to find broadband <br />solutions ~ 2014 <br />• Ad hoc Broadband Initiative Group formed ~ 2015 <br />• Orange County Broadband Survey ~ 2015 <br />• State solicits broadband providers to come to Orange County ~ 2016 <br /> <br />Meanwhile…. <br />Orange County solidified and expanded its relationships with neighboring jurisdictions and <br />agencies