[Gallery] BalsamWest FiberNET, a new wholesale telecommunications company, announced that it will begin assisting community leaders in its six-county service area to develop plans and obtain resources to directly connect to its advanced telecommunications network.

The Founding Members of BalsamWest have set aside funding to work with local officials, Internet Service Providers and others to help Western North Carolina communities gain high-speed Internet access, from their ISP of choice, at a price and quality comparable to those in metropolitan areas of the US.

“The possibilities for this type of connectivity are endless,” said Michell Hicks, Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. “Imagine our children being able to participate in a real-time on-line classroom with children in Japan, or any other country in the world. Imagine your doctor being able to send your x-rays and scans to a specialist instantly. And, imagine living in the mountains while working for a company in Atlanta without leaving your home office. These opportunities are just around the corner.”

By extending the benefits of the BalsamWest network into the heart of the region, economic development will prosper allowing existing businesses to flourish and new businesses to move into the region.

“Communities in Western North Carolina have lost and continue to lose jobs in the manufacturing sector. By bringing high-speed wholesale optical telecommunications service’s into Western North Carolina, we are creating opportunities for economic growth and development so everyone in the region can stand shoulder to shoulder together as we move forward into the 21st Century,” said David Hubbs, director of Drake Enterprises’ Dnet Internet Services.

“Low-cost access to advanced telecommunications infrastructure is no longer a luxury when it comes to job creation—it is a necessity. Residents of all ages will have access to resources to improve health, wellness and quality of life,” said Dr. Cecil Groves, President of Southwestern Community College.

BalsamWest will immediately begin providing the expertise and planning assistance needed to help communities use existing or new resources to connect to the BalsamWest backbone network.

For more information about BalsamWest FiberNET contact John A. Short or Sherry McCuller, BalsamWest FiberNET Public Relations Coordinator at (828) 586-6141 or write them at either jshort@balsamwest.net or smcculler@balsamwest.net.