BalsamWest FiberNET announced its latest accomplishment in improving Internet accessibility through the once secluded Tri-State Appalachian region - direct connectivity to the Atlanta Internet backbone, the third largest Internet backbone in the nation.

Through a strategic interconnect partnership with USCarrier Telecom, a provider of high-capacity, high-speed telecommunications bandwidth, BalsamWest's ultrahigh speed fiber optic network will now double the Internet service provided by Dnet Internet Services, a full-service regional provider that focuses on Internet safety for homes, schools and businesses, and will increase the Internet bandwidth availability to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians by ten fold.

Interconnected in Atlanta, Ga., the network joins BalsamWest's 300-mile Tri- State ultra-high-speed fiber optic backbone with USCarrier's 3,400 route-mile high-capacity fiber optic network to form the largest Internet connections in the region. This partnership provides long-haul transport between second and third-tier cities throughout the Southeast with previously hard to reach areas of the Tri-State area between eastern Tenn., northern Ga. and western N.C. that are seeking new and competitive services.

As the Tri-state region seeks improved and competitive services, BalsamWest is introducing the rural area to high-capacity communication services, such as IPTV, movie downloading and video security. These services are made possible through the direct, deep-reach access to metropolitan areas established by BalsamWest.

By tapping the Atlanta Internet backbone, BalsamWest can provide diverse, protected and through routes for customers to access these nextgeneration communication services.

"The technology leadership of BalsamWest FiberNET is making a fundamental difference in the whole health of this Tri-State region," said David Hubbs of Dnet Internet Services. "Through BalsamWest's network, schools and organizations can now connect to the Internet with reliability and security unseen before in this region. Many people thought this couldn't be done - and not only have we met success, we have connected to one of the largest Internet backbones in the nation, bringing the world to our fingertips."

"This project is one of the biggest and most important of its kind for our region and will make a huge impact on our children, our families and our community," said Brandon Stephens, Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians and chairman of the Board of BalsamWest FiberNET. "We look forward to seeing the results and reaping the rewards of this investment in our people and in our region."

In January, BalsamWest announced the installation of its ultra-high-speed fiber optic network connecting 45 school sites in seven rural school districts, including the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Because BalsamWest's unique business model allows for projects that enhance quality of life in the communities within its network area, the company is able to offer this cutting-edge connectivity at far below-market rates, enabling access to an even greater segment of the region's population.

The fiber optic network is expected to serve as a catalyst for advances in education as well as health care, public services, economic opportunities and job creation for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Western North Carolina.