REDMOND, Wash., April 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday,
Declaration Networks Group Inc. (DNG) and Microsoft Corp. announced
a new agreement to deliver broadband internet access to
approximately 65,000 people on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, including Accomack and Northampton Counties, and Garrett County, Maryland, over the next three
years. This partnership is part of Microsoft's Rural Airband
Initiative.
There are 19.4 million people living in rural America without
broadband access, including nearly 30 percent of the people in
rural Virginia and 6 percent of
the people in rural Maryland.
Under its NeuBeam™ brand, DNG delivers high-speed internet and
voice services using a combination of advanced wireless
technologies, including TV White Spaces. Microsoft and DNG aim to
address the rural broadband gap for residents and businesses,
allowing unserved regions to fully participate in the digital
economy through access to technology and services that will enable
farmers, healthcare professionals, educators, business leaders and
others in the community.
"This partnership with Declaration Networks will help close the
rural broadband gap for 65,000 people living on the Eastern Shore
of Virginia and in Garrett County, Maryland," said Shelley McKinley, Microsoft's head of Technology
and Corporate Responsibility. "Broadband is essential for
agriculture, education, business and healthcare. Microsoft's
Airband initiative is focused on bringing this necessity to 2
million people in rural America by 2022 and accelerating the
national priority of closing the broadband gap."
"DNG and Microsoft share a commitment to establishing quality
broadband solutions for rural America," said Bob Nichols, CEO of DNG. "Our partnership
reflects a shared vision that focuses on an effective plan to align
stakeholders, technology and resources for a sustainable path to
address the digital divide."
Closing the rural broadband gap is strongly supported by
Virginia and Maryland leaders:
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said, "As a native of the Eastern
Shore, I am thrilled that Microsoft is taking action to bring new
broadband connectivity to communities that need it. This new
effort, in addition to ongoing efforts in state government, will
help bridge the digital divide. Connecting rural communities
will help create jobs, grow our economy and improve our quality of
life. I am happy to celebrate this positive step forward as we work
to make our commonwealth work better for all Virginians, no matter
who you are or where you live."
Maryland Gov. Larry
Hogan said, "Reliable access to high-speed internet is
critical for Maryland's small
businesses, families and students to thrive in our 21st century
economy. We are working diligently to eliminate the rural broadband
gap and ensure that all Marylanders have the opportunity to access
trusted, cost-effective broadband solutions."
U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner
said, "Millions of Americans, particularly in rural America,
lack broadband access — a precondition to meaningful participation
in the digital economy. That's millions of people unable to
participate in e-commerce, enroll in online courses, receive
tele-health services, and get on-demand services. It also means
millions of people unable to hone programming skills, engage in
telework, or modernize rural industries with broadband. Broadband
access doesn't guarantee a community success, but not having it
guarantees that companies aren't going to even consider you. I
applaud efforts like these that seek to close the digital divide,
including through innovative last-mile services."
U.S. Rep. John K. Delaney said,
"As the only former CEO of a publicly traded company currently
serving in Congress, I know how critical it is to position our
businesses, workers and families to best compete in a global
digital market. Closing the broadband gap is a critical piece of
successful education, entrepreneurship and innovation, and I
applaud DNG and Microsoft's investment in the communities of
Garrett County."
U.S. Rep. Scott Taylor said, "We
live in a digital age, where the internet is no longer considered a
luxury but a necessary part of everyday life. The widespread lack
of internet on the Eastern Shore and across rural Virginia makes these populations especially
vulnerable by limiting their access to education, medicine and
information services. Thanks to DNG and Microsoft, we can finally
begin the process of expanding broadband networks throughout rural
Virginia to equip residents,
businesses and professionals with the tools needed to succeed in a
21st century economy."
In addition to commercial partnerships with local companies like
Declaration, Microsoft's Rural Airband Initiative includes digital
skills training for people in newly connected communities and
access to royalty-free patents. Proceeds from Airband connectivity
projects will be reinvested into the program to expand broadband to
more rural areas.
About Declaration Networks Group
DNG successfully deploys and operates broadband local access
solutions in underserved markets with a combination of advanced
fiber and wireless to deliver high speed Internet and voice
services to residential and business customers. DNG is a recognized
leader in developing sustainable broadband eco-systems through
cooperative local partnerships that leverage combined resources
towards shared goals, to increase access to affordable, quality
broadband service and allowing customers to "connect to what
matters." For more information, please visit
www.declarationnetworks.com and www.neubeam.com.
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) enables digital
transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an
intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every
organization on the planet to achieve more.
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SOURCE Microsoft Corp.