My name is Erna Bright, Jr.  I am a retired telephone network switching technician from the former Century Link Telephone Company.  After graduating from high school, I attended College of the Albemarle and received a degree in technology.  In 1976, I started my career with Norfolk and Carolina Telephone Company in Eliazbeth City, North Carolina, as an installer repairman.  I became the sole company representative in Sunbury, North Carolina, after the merger with Carolina Telephone.  My job was installation and repair, cable repair, and central office work.  Carolina Telephone implemented quality circles and special training in the Demming Process of excellence in the workplace.  After serving in a Quality Circle, I became a facilitator.  Our team worked together to create more efficient ways of doing our jobs.  As part of the Quality Circle, our focus was on outstanding customer service, reducing repeat troubles, and mean time to repair.  Our team wrote and produced costumer service training, including videos and television commercials.  I was honored to receive the Clover Award for outstanding customer service with the now merged United Telephone Company.  I was part of the first fiberoptic transatlantic live video from the Cape Hatteras Light House.   I was promoted to the Central Office as a Network Switching Technician.  My job was to maintain T1’s to cell towers, and remote offices.  At that time, the company started hosting ISPs for the internet, fiber networks grew, and copper transports were moved to fiber networks. Data transport required more fiber and digital rather than analog.  As a result, my job became more fiber oriented, along with advanced light wave transport, fiber splicing and repair.  My career evolved from 10 party lines to advanced data transport for the internet. 
My core value parallels with my faith in God.  I try to treat everyone the same no matter what their background may be.  My desire is to give my best in any situation to help those in need.  I live in a rural area where people are overlooked. 
I have been married forty-five years to my wife, Rachel.  I have two sons and four grandchildren.  My life is involved with many family activities from dance recitals, baseball, to 4 H livestock shows.  I have been past president of school PTA and involved with church activities with my family.  I am a former EMT and currently a certified fire fighter with 52 years of service.  I am the past president of the Albemarle Firefighter’s Association and the recipient of the Firefighter of the Year Award.  I am the safety officer and grant writer for the Sunbury VFD receiving grants for several firetrucks, various safety and rescue equipment.   I lobbied extensively to bring 911 and E911 to Gates County.  In my leisure time, I enjoy the beach, boating and fishing, scuba diving and hiking and riding my bike.
Although my home is in Gates County, my job with the Telephone Company has allowed me to work all over eastern North Carolina, in parts of South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.  I personally have seen the need for upgrading telecommunications and internet technology to give the people of these communities a better life.  It is a privilege to be a part of the broadband team bringing internet to rural areas of North Carolina.