Day 10: NCTNA + MCNC power medical-grade broadband that saves lives in North Carolina
MCNC and the North Carolina Telehealth Network Association (NCTNA) have partnered for more than a decade. Together, we share a mission to ensure North Carolina’s health care providers have secure, reliable, medical-grade broadband.
Strengthening Rural Health Connectivity
Broadband is essential to modern health and care especially in rural and underserved communities. Reliable connectivity enables:
- Telehealth and telemedicine
- Electronic health records
- Real-time care coordination
- Faster, safer clinical operations
- Stable, affordable access
- Secure, HIPAA-compliant connectivity
Big Win Protecting USF
This year brought a major victory when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the FCC and the Universal Service Fund (USF). NCTNA — with MCNC’s support — strongly advocated for its preservation because the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program provides up to 65 percent discounts on broadband services for public and non-profit health care providers.
These savings allow rural hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), clinics, and health departments to maintain secure, modern networks without cutting essential services. For many sites, the RHC helps make medical-grade broadband possible.
BroadBAND TOGETHER
NCTNA launched this statewide forum to bring health care, broadband, and public-sector leaders into alignment on North Carolina’s digital priorities. In 2025, the primary focus centered on the USF, including how it continues to support affordable, resilient broadband for North Carolina health care providers and anchor institutions, and what the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Consumer’s Research v. FCC means for the fund’s future.
MCNC President and CEO Tracy Doaks provided critical updates on broadband strategy, BEAD (Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program) implementation, and USF stability; helping members understand what’s next for broadband access in North Carolina and how these decisions will shape the state’s health care connectivity for years to come.
Success Story: Roanoke Chowan Dental Clinic
Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center’s new dental clinic shows the true power of collaboration. MCNC delivered medical-grade broadband at the best possible pricing; NCTNA secured RHC support and the Carolina Connection Grant helped fund startup costs. Our efforts provided the secure, high-capacity connectivity needed to open the clinic, expanding access to oral health care in an underserved rural community. Bill Sparks, director of IT for Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center explained that “you can transmit large files back and forth without issue… NCTNA’s setup with MCNC fiber is solid. It just works.”
Building a Healthier, More Connected Future
Together, these endeavors highlight the critical role broadband plays in strengthening North Carolina’s health care system – from protecting the programs that keep connectivity affordable, to aligning statewide leaders on shared priorities, to powering real-world improvements in rural communities. MCNC and NCTNA’s longstanding partnership continues to ensure that health care providers have the secure, resilient, medical-grade broadband they need to deliver modern, high-quality care. As we look ahead, this collective work positions North Carolina to remain a national leader in connected, equitable health care for every community we serve.
