PANGAEA Internet & Rutherford Regional Health System Awarded Facebook Grant

October 31, 2011 – Tryon, NC
Contacts: PANGAEA Internet: Ron Walters (828-859-3071 or 828-395-1155)

TRYON, NC / October 31, 2011 – PANGAEA Internet (“PANGAEA”) will soon deliver its “Speed of Light” fiber optic internet service to Rutherford Regional Health System (“RRHS”), thanks to a grant from Facebook. RRHS and PANGAEA were awarded $25,000 by George Henry, Facebook Rutherford Data Center Manager, as part of the 2011 Facebook-Rutherford Community Action Grants.

The grant will help improve the quality, efficiency and cost of health care in Rutherford County by providing PANGAEA’s fiber optic connectivity between the RRHS main campus in Rutherfordton and the PANGAEA network. Establishing connectivity will be the first phase of a planned, three-phase project, which will eventually connect the RRHS main campus with seven additional critical RRHS locations throughout Rutherford County.

The grant award enhances an already-strong connection between Facebook and PANGAEA, which is currently installing fiber optic internet service to serve the construction complex located alongside the Facebook Data Center in Forest City. Since 2003, the PANGAEA fiber optic network has expanded to more than 160 fiber route miles serving the major arteries of Polk and Rutherford counties, with approximately 75% of the network located in Rutherford County.

RRHS President and CEO David Bixler and PANGAEA Executive Director Ron Walters received the grant from Henry on Thursday, October 27th, during a presentation at the RRHS main campus. “It’s an exciting day when we can talk about providing and enhancing connectivity to the hospital and the medical community,” Bixler said. “This should further increase the level of service to patients that we serve and physicians who work closely with us. Rutherford Regional Health System looks forward to moving ahead with partners like Facebook and PANGAEA to continually identify ways to increase the quality of life of those who work and live in Rutherford County and the surrounding areas.”

Please visit www.pangaea.us to see the network map, customer testimonials and the PANGAEA contact information or call 828-859-3072.

PANGAEA’S mission is to build an open and cost effective fiber optic network and deliver affordable high-speed Internet connectivity to enhance economic development and improve the quality of life in Polk and Rutherford Counties