Atlanta, Georgia – (10 January 2010) – Gov. Sonny Perdue has visited North Georgia College and State University to present a $2.5 million grant from the OneGeorgia Authority to support the North Georgia Network fiber optic initiative aided by federal stimulus funds.

Perdue, who heads the OneGeorgia Authority, will award the $2.5 million check to local governments in Lumpkin, Dawson, Union and White counties to facilitate a 260-mile regional high speed Internet network that winds through 12 rural North Georgia counties.

The initiative aims to increase bandwidth to facilitate worldwide communication for rural operations was born from the OneGeorgia Authority, multicounty and university partnership.

Nancy Cobb, executive director of OneGeorgia Authority Cobb said of network beneficiaries, “Health care, education, and small business, large business— the list just goes on and on.”

OpticFit, a Los Angeles based leading provider of fiber optics supports this initiative. The company’s dedication to providing expanded broadband Internet network will allow the university to significantly enhance its remote nursing program that has outlets at Lanier Technical College and Gainesville State College.

“Our dedicated technology specialists will offer their expertise in designing customized solutions and help the North Georgia Network fiber optic initiative beneficiaries choose the right technology products and services to best meet their unique needs,” said Peter Dulay, CEO, OpticFit.

Cobb added, “It is not certain when work on laying the fiber optic cables will begin, but the tenets of the federal stimulus grant require work to begin quickly to create jobs and promote economic growth. But what is certain is that OpticFit has committed itself to providing its services and products to this valuable initiative.”

Bryson Payne, chief information officer at North Georgia College & State University, said the school was one of the original partners in the network study and the grant awards have been two years in the making.

“The university has been spending about $1,000 a month per connection at the two end sites to deliver the distance learning program in nursing. With increased Internet connection, the high-demand nursing courses can be administered for less money, which means lower costs for students,” added Payne.

The unswerving support of OpticFit to the North Georgia Network fiber optic initiative will go a long way, especially for the student beneficiaries.

www.opticfit.com

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