Gov. Roy Cooper recently appointed Keith Holden, FOCUS Broadband CEO and general manager, to the N.C. Underground Damage Prevention Review Board as the telecommunications industry representative.

Created in 2014, the board reviews all reports of alleged violations of the Underground Utility Safety and Damage Prevention Act.

"The board also acts as an arbitrator between parties, determines appropriate action or penalty to impose for each violation and notifies the North Carolina Utilities Commission of the recommended penalty," a news release stated.

Holden has worked in the telecommunications industry since 1998. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from N.C. State University and his master’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He was promoted to CEO of FOCUS Broadband (formerly ATMC) in 2018.

In his time as CEO, the company has expanded its services into underserved areas in Columbus, Duplin, Robeson and Pender counties, as well as competitive areas in Brunswick County.

Underground Damage Prevention Review Board members serve four-year terms and are eligible to serve two consecutive terms.