Blue Ridge Broadband Alliance: Six Months of Progress

The Blue Ridge Broadband Alliance launched in June of 2025 with a clear goal: to make sure no one in Western North Carolina is left on the wrong side of the digital divide. As the nation and state invest billions in broadband infrastructure, local coordination and community voice have never been more important. In just six months, the BRBA has brought together leaders, industry experts, public officials, and passionate members of the WNC community to learn, collaborate, and advocate for the region’s needs. In the first six months, BRBA has accomplished: 

• Six Months of Shared Learning: BRBA’s monthly meetings have become a space for stakeholders to learn from experts—and each other—about the issues that matter in our quickly moving broadband landscape.
• Translating Knowledge Into Action: BRBA members didn’t just learn together in 2025; they spoke up together. As federal and state broadband policies shifted throughout the year, BRBA organized two sign-on letters to ensure that Western North Carolina’s concerns were heard by decision-makers.
• Celebrating the Community: In October, the Alliance hosted its inaugural in-person event, the Digital Opportunity Pitch Party. The Pitch Party brought together Alliance members, policymakers, practitioners, and telecommunications industry experts at Devil’s Foot Brewing in Asheville for an exciting morning showcasing creative local solutions to bridge the digital divide.