The e-NC Authority is a North Carolina state initiative designed to map out statewide broadband availability in an effort to bring high speed Internet access to both rural and distressed urban areas throughout North Carolina. Those involved with the e-NC Authority say that it was the forerunner for the Connect Kentucky model which was ultimately used to create the Connected Nation plan for a nationwide broadband strategy. Although the Connect Nation method may not be the right approach, the e-NC Authority agrees that a nationwide broadband strategy is crucial to the growth and development of broadband for all states and is pushing for the adoption of an 80 Mbps nationwide broadband goal. For its part, one report indicates that there are two cooperatives in North Carolina that are building rural FTTH at these speeds. Incidentally, the national broadband strategy proposed by the Communication Workers of America will be presented as part of the Democratic platform at next week’s party convention.