Internet Authority Stays Alive

RALEIGH—The Senate on Tuesday approved legislation creating a new agency that will provide high-speed broadband Internet access for rural counties and “distressed” urban areas in North Carolina. The Senate approved the measure establishing the E-NC Authority by a 41-6 vote. The E-NC Authority will continue and expand the work of the Rural Internet Access Authority, which was established by the legislature three years ago and originally set to expire at the end of 2003.