Bay Springs, Mississippi (May 1, 2023) – TEC, a leading rural broadband provider, has completed construction on an expansion project in Covington County. This undertaking will increase Gigabit-speed internet coverage by an estimated 52 miles, providing connectivity to more than 750 homes and businesses. TEC was one of 386 competing companies in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction held in November of 2020, 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 portions of Copiah, Covington, Jasper, Lawrence, Lincoln, Newton, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith counties. Once all phases are complete, this project will bring Fast Fiber Internet access to more than 23,000 residential and business customers in rural Mississippi. This widespread access to high-speed broadband will accelerate economic growth in these communities and make services such as remote education and telemedicine faster and more reliable.
“Broadband internet allows so many new opportunities for rural Mississippians. Our members living in the Hopewell and Hot Coffee communities will benefit from having access to fast fiber internet and will now be able to work from home, take online classes, and participate in quality healthcare through telemedicine. We are thrilled to see the continued progress of TEC’s fast fiber internet expansion,” said Fountaine McNair, Southern Pine Director, At Large.
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.
"Even after 100 years of connecting communities, TEC's commitment to our customers never wavers," said Joey Garner, CEO. "We are thrilled to expand high-speed internet access to residents and business owners in Covington County."
ABOUT THE PROJECT
This undertaking will cover an estimated 52 miles and will connect more than 750 residential and business customers to Fast Fiber Internet, providing symmetrical Gigabit speeds and home phone services to a portion of Covington County. 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 of these markets more than 20 years ago. For more information, visit www.TEC.com or social media @TECconnects.