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The Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative (MBC) is a not-for-profit Cooperative created in 2003 by a visionary group of regional leaders whose purpose was to revitalize the regional economy of Southside Virginia. This goal was achieved by establishing a sustainable business plan to build a cost-effective, carrier-class telecom infrastructure that would expand broadband services in the region, provide unique opportunities for research/development and create opportunities for the private sector to deploy competitive broadband services. . In 2004, MBC created a plan to build over 700 miles of new fiber optic infrastructure, deploy the latest optical network equipment, and own the facilities and infrastructure that would be used for this project. The project started with $6 million in grant funding from the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) along with a matching $6 million from the Virginia Tobacco Commission (VTC) to build the first 300 miles of network infrastructure in the region. The VTC provided an additional $28 million in grant funding which helped MBC extend the network to all 20 counties and over 60 business, technology and industrial parks. The additional funds also allowed MBC to deploy an advanced, carrier-class SONET/SDH Network using Nortel's Optical Multi-service Edge 6500 platform with OC-192 and OC-48 rings, purchase fiber from Atlanta to Washington DC, deploy Infinera Digital Transport Network DWDM system on our long-haul route, and provide the needed capital and operational funding to meet the business plan needs. Today, the 700-mile fiber network is operational. MBC is an established wholesaler of broadband services, providing the infrastructure necessary to attract businesses to rural Virginia. MBC and the VTC are funding last mile pilot projects in five different Virginia towns. Businesses and residents throughout Virginias are benefiting from MBC's success. MBC is governed by an independent board of directors, and maintains a corporate office located at the Virginia Tobacco Commission offices at 7th & Franklin Streets, and has a Network Operations Center at Riverstone Technology Park in South Boston, Virginia. The General Manager, Network Operations Manager, and Administrative Assistant run the daily operations of MBC.