TEC is pleased to announce the commencement of the Central Mississippi Rural Community Fiber Project. This endeavor will provide Gigabit and higher broadband internet speeds to the communities of Bay Springs, Polkville, White Oak, Walters, Homewood, Big Creek, and Soso. Construction for the project will begin in October of this year and continue into 2021.
This project will increase internet access to over 2,500 locations. TEC's personal investment of $9,996,000 promises considerable strides in narrowing the digital divide in rural Mississippi. The project spans over 106 square miles of Jasper, Smith, Scott, Rankin, and Jones Counties. Fiber-optic broadband internet is future-proof technology that increases property values and improves the quality of life. Fiber broadband means better access to health care through telemedicine, more educational opportunities through distance learning, increased opportunities for economic development, and a better video streaming and gaming experience.
Joey Garner, Executive Vice President of TEC “Fiber is the gold standard for broadband internet, and we are thrilled to bring this technology to our hometown and surrounding areas. TEC is committed to our customers, employees, and communities. We are excited and ready to start this huge project that will impact thousands of lives with enhanced internet access,” states Joey F. Garner, Executive Vice President of TEC.
TEC has been providing telecom services to rural America for nearly a century, and they were the first to bring internet options to its rural markets over 20 years ago. TEC provides economic stability to its service areas, employing over 90 people across Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Currently, TEC has invested in and maintains approximately 3,700 miles of copper connectivity and over 1,300 miles of fiber-optic cabling in its rural markets.