North Carolina resident Edward Smith received the call of a lifetime last week when he was asked to introduce President Joe Biden at an event touting the administration’s efforts to promote more broadband deployment across the state.
When Smith, a customer of FOCUS Broadband (Shallotte, N.C.), was presented with the idea of speaking before Biden, he said his first thought was, “This is for a good cause. I want to let everyone know the good that FOCUS is doing for my community.” Smith said he was also especially excited to represent his hometown of Tar Heel, home to just over 100 residents in rural North Carolina.
“Before FOCUS, our internet services were beyond expensive, slow and we would have a hard time staying connected with friends and family,” Smith said. “Bringing high-speed internet to Tar Heel has been the best thing for my family and I to enjoy our time apart and still feel like we are together.”
After taking the stage last week, the retired Army Sergeant First Class spoke on how proud he was to serve his country for 22 years, and also how grateful he was that FOCUS Broadband has provided his hometown with high-speed internet. Now, he can download and email his Veteran’s Affairs paperwork rather than driving long distances to locations with public Wi-Fi, and his grandchildren can do their schoolwork at his home.
In 2022, FOCUS Broadband was awarded a $2.9 million Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grant from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology to expand fiber optic broadband service to more than 727 homes and businesses in Bladen County, including Smith’s home.
“Thanks to this project, many residents in the Tar Heel community and along Highway 701 between Clarkton and Elizabethtown can now enjoy the benefits of high-speed internet,” said FOCUS Public Relations Coordinator Megan McGuire. “[This includes] the ability to work remotely, engage in online learning, and participate in telehealth appointments.”
FOCUS Broadband is a member-owned cooperative that provides telephone, business services, wireless, broadband internet, television and home security services in southeastern North Carolina.