Good news.

MCNC, the non-profit operator of the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), is working with us to help MCNC enhance the user experience for those who enjoy their broadband and communications services for advanced academic and economic development organizations.

NCREN is a fiber-based network that spans more than 2,600 miles across the entire state of North Carolina. MCNC also provides broadband services for numerous non-profit hospitals and public health agencies through the N.C. Telehealth Network.

MCNC is working on a$144 million expansion of its network with efforts expected to be complete by end of this year. Their initiative, known as GoldenLEAF Rural Broadband Initiative, is funded by the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration's "Broadband Technology Opportunities Program."

MCNC chose to optimize its network operations by deploying its first advanced optical network using our Cisco? ONS 15454 Series Multiservice Provision Platforms, Cisco Carrier Routing System and Cisco ASR 9000 Series Aggregation Services Routers.

Our optical solution and routers' architecture will also help enable the MCNC to increase bandwidth and avoid latency in order to accommodate the deluge of Internet-enabled devices being used by in schools and research and healthcare facilities throughout the state.

Tommy Jacobson, Chief Operating Officer of MCNC, has overseen this massive effort by MCNC.

He said, "The Cisco ONS 15454 platform, Cisco CRS-3 and Cisco ASR 9000 Series routers give MCNC users a great advantage. Because the Cisco equipment has an extended-reach capability and is much less expensive to deploy, we can lower the barriers of optical networking access and encourage educators and researchers to utilize faster speeds that reduce the cycle time for them to be productive. We evaluated vendors across the spectrum and chose Cisco as the complete solution -offering great reliability and proven technical features - paired with a corporate commitment to our user community."

Cisco optical networking products and services are key components of an evolved programmable network (EPN), an architecture that enables service providers to migrate and deliver services to Internet Protocol-based networks. By adopting EPN, MCNC can also deliver innovative services to their users more quickly.

We thank you Tommy and MCNC for their continued confidence in us.