Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. David Price (D-NC) announced that the North Carolina Central University School of Law will receive a $1.9 million grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to deploy broadband videoconferencing technology to five legal assistance facilities across the state. The project will serve low-income residents and undergraduates at Legal AID of North Carolina offices at NCCU and four other Historically Black Colleges and Universities, including Elizabeth City State University, Winston-Salem State University, North Carolina A&T University and Fayetteville State University.

"This project builds on the NCCU School of Law's long tradition of community involvement," Rep. Price said. "Using broadband to reach underserved communities is an innovative and promising way to provide all North Carolinians, regardless of economic disadvantages, full access to the legal system."

By providing writing seminars for undergraduates to better prepare them for law school, the project also aims to increase the number of ethnic and economic minorities in the legal profession. High school students interested in the legal procession will also be able to join introductory law classes across the region sponsored by the project.

The NCCU project builds on other ARRA broadband investments across the state. This year, MCNC has received over $103 million in ARRA funding to expand broadband access throughout the most rural and economically disadvantaged counties in North Carolina. The ARRA grants won by MCNC are also expected to strengthen and expand broadband access at the state's universities, research institutions, community colleges, libraries, and K-12 public schools.

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