(AP) -- HICKORY, N.C. (AP) - Expanding broadband Internet access in North Carolina's rural areas is getting a major boost from the federal government. 

Gov. Beverly Perdue, U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan and others are scheduled to attend an event Friday in Hickory to celebrate the expansion of the North Carolina Research and Education Network.

The Raleigh-based nonprofit MCNC received a $28 million federal grant in January to help build 480 miles of new fiber lines for the network in southeastern and western North Carolina. MCNC raised matching funds. The project will help improve broadband services at nearly 1,300 schools and higher education institutions.

The event will be held at CommScope headquarters in Hickory. The company already has been selected to provide materials for the project.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)