Connecting Rural Polk and Rutherford Counties within the Foothills Regional Commission Footprint

In North Carolina, units of local government cannot own and operate their own broadband network. This has led to slower adoption rates and a variety of other issues such as higher prices and gaps in digital literacy, especially in Western North Carolina, where the population density and challenging terrain impairs internet service providers from investing in the infrastructure to connect homes and businesses.

To meet this need in Polk and Rutherford Counties, two of the four counties that Foothills Regional Commission serves, Pangaea internet was formed and began operating as a full non-profit internet service provider. Since 2007, when Pangaea opened, they have run 343 miles of network and serve over 375 customers at more than 400 locations.

Pangaea was awarded funding from ARC totaling $600,000 for the construction of additional fiber and other key infrastructure upgrades. This funding will provide an additional 8 miles of fiber and serve an additional 800 homes and 110 businesses. This project has potential to triple their customers and expand their mission of ensuring residents have access to broadband that is effective, consistent, and affordable.

For more information about Pangaea: https://pangaea.us/