Jackson, Mississippi (May 3, 2023) - TEC, a leading rural broadband provider, has completed a 64-mile project to provide Fast Fiber Internet to additional parts of the Taylorsville community. This will provide connectivity to more than 600 households and businesses by providing access to Gigabit speed internet. The completed project will expand Fast Fiber Internet to more than 23,000 families and businesses in rural Mississippi, making services such as distance education and telemedicine faster and more dependable. TEC was one of 386 competing companies in the November 2020, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction, which awarded $9 billion for the provision of broadband internet to unserved and underserved areas throughout the United States. TEC, with the assistance of the FCC, will fund the building and delivery of broadband access to Copiah, Covington, Jasper, Lawrence, Lincoln, Newton, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith counties.
“The list of positive impacts of high-speed internet in unserved and underserved communities is long and covers a broad spectrum, but at the end of the day, it’s all about enhancing the quality of life,” says Chris Rhodes, President & CEO of Southern Pine Electric. He continues, “I’m excited for the citizens of the Taylorsville community and our members, and I congratulate TEC on reaching another milestone.”
Dependable fiber internet connections offer improved quality of life through access to telemedicine, remote learning, and work-from-home opportunities. Additionally, high-speed broadband provides personal entertainment, such as gaming or video streaming. TEC’s goal is to minimize the broadband access gap by providing reliable, high-quality, affordable internet solutions to the communities it serves.
TEC CEO Joey Garner said, "We know that having dependable broadband is vital to the everyday lives of our customers." She added, "TEC is thrilled that we can now offer the gold standard of fast internet to this part of the Taylorsville community."
ABOUT THE PROJECT
This undertaking covers an estimated 64 miles and connects more than 600 residential and business customers to Fast Fiber Internet, providing symmetrical Gigabit speeds and home phone services to parts of the Taylorsville community. Gigabit internet connections give the best online experience for streamers, gamers, social media users, and families with multiple users at home. To sign up for service, visit www.TEC.com/SignUp to complete a short form.
ABOUT TEC
TEC provides economic stability to its local service areas, employing more than 200 people across Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana. TEC has invested in and currently maintains approximately 2,000 miles of fiber in its rural markets. For a century, TEC has been a forerunner in providing telecommunications services to rural America and was the first to bring internet options to many rural markets more than 20 years ago. For more information, visit www.TEC.com or social media @TECconnects.