[RTC List] Local Internet Project Wins Education Award

[Tina Nerat]

For NEWS, click on http://now.humboldt.edu

 

                                                           Local Internet
Project Wins Education Award

Arcata - Redwood Coast Connect, the pilot project partnered by Humboldt
State University to spur high speed broadband service in the four-county
region, has been recognized for its achievements by the state agency that
oversees Internet resources for higher education.

 

Redwood Coast Connect will be honored for "Innovations in Networking for
Gigabit Broadband Applications" at a conference in Long Beach on March 10
hosted by the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California
(CENIC). It operates a high-bandwidth, high-capacity Internet system
tailored to education's unique requirements. 

 

"Being recognized by CENIC is a high honor because it has been advocating
along with us for fiber route diversity," said Tina Nerat of Neratech, a
Humboldt company that specializes in business solutions through information
technology. "CENIC has kept the North Coast on the state's broadband radar
for the past seven years," she said, "and it continues to keep us on the
state's radar with this award. It recognizes how important Redwood Coast
Connect findings are to rural California."

 

The findings measure demand for broadband service across Del Norte,
Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity Counties. The four are the first counties in
the state to track and demonstrate substantial and growing demand for rural
broadband services in un-served and underserved communities. Redwood Coast
Connect is documenting the strong need for Internet infrastructure
throughout the region in a bid to attract investment from service providers.

 

Humboldt State, in partnership with Redwood Coast Rural Action, secured
$500,000 from the California Emerging Technology Fund and a consortium of
regional financiers to underwrite Redwood Coast Connect. "The University's
role in the analysis of regional broadband needs is part of a broad and
continuing effort to involve students in key rural issues as they pursue
their higher education," President Rollin Richmond said.

 

Proponents say full-scale Internet services would help to shore up the
region's sagging economy, fueling economic development, providing better
health care and generating jobs and growth for agriculture, ranching, Native
American tribes, green initiatives, educators and niche companies eager to
pursue state, national and export markets. 

 

Paul Mann

News & Information

707/826-5105/psm7001 at humboldt.edu

   

 

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