On August 13, 2022, NCACC President and Washington County Commissioner Tracey Johnson announced her presidential initiative, Connecting Counties, which aims to expand broadband across counties in North Carolina.
As a champion of rural broadband access, President Johnson is determined to spend her year as NCACC President maximizing the funding opportunities available to make sure that all counties can realize the opportunity and are able to expand broadband access to the underserved and unserved. This is the goal of President Johnson’s initiative, Connecting Counties: Expanding Broadband Access in NC.
The initiative’s task force will bring together county commissioners and officials to explore the complexities and opportunities for expanding broadband. Counties in North Carolina are a key partner in broadband projects and can be invaluable to private sector partners as they plan for and execute projects. The task force will convene regional meetings that will bring together public officials and private sector leaders, especially internet service providers, so that there can be facilitated conversations about how counties can work with partners to expand broadband in their communities.
Connecting Counties Task Force
Co-chaired by Bertie County Commissioner Ron Wesson and Cabarrus County Commissioner Steve Morris, the task force will develop best practices, highlight successes and will share lessons learned from these regional meetings. The goal of the task force is to bring to light how counties can work together with broadband leaders to maximize on the impact of existing and future broadband projects.
- Task Force Members
Member County Title Tracey Johnson Washington County President Ron Wesson Bertie County Co-Chair Steve Morris Cabarrus County Co-Chair Johnnie Carswell Burke County President-Elect Randy Cress Rowan County County Staff: County Manager Jesse Dowe Duplin County Commissioner Keith Elmore Wilkes County Commissioner Nina Griswell Tyrrell County Commissioner Tim Love Buncombe County County Staff: Intergovernmental Affairs Bryan Miller Caswell County County Staff: County Manager Shinica Thomas Wake County Commissioner Charlie Wallin Watauga County Commissioner Ralph Webb Edgecombe County Commissioner Terri Wells Buncombe County Commissioner
- Task Force Regional Meetings
- October 13, 2022: Forsyth County
- December 14, 2022: Wake County
- February 22, 2023: Wake County
Resources for Expanding Broadband Access
