Bay Springs, Mississippi (May 9, 2023) – TEC, a leading rural broadband provider, has completed construction that will provide Fast Fiber Internet access in Covington County. This undertaking, which covers an estimated 41.7 miles, will expand Gigabit-speed broadband to more than 400 customers in the Hot Coffee area. 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. Once all phases are complete, this will increase TEC's Fast Fiber Internet reach to more than 23,000 families and businesses in rural Mississippi, making vital services such as distance education and telemedicine faster and more dependable.
“We are extremely pleased with this new phase of TEC’s Fast Fiber Internet expansion. This will dramatically impact the lives of the Southern Pine members in Hot Coffee and open up easy access to education, medical care, and work opportunities that are unavailable to them currently,” said Greg Sullivan, Southern Pine Director, Covington County.
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 is thrilled to be able to bring this internet infrastructure expansion to the good people of the Hot Coffee area,” said CEO Joey Garner. “For 100 years now, TEC has been creating connection for our rural customers, and that commitment is stronger than ever.”
ABOUT THE PROJECT
This project will cover an estimated 41.7 miles and will connect more than 400 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.