ERIN, Tenn. (June 7, 2021) – TEC, a leading provider of rural internet, is continuing construction of its Benton County Fast Fiber Internet project to the northern area of Big Sandy. The project is scheduled to be complete in third quarter of 2021 and will connect an additional 500 homes and businesses in Big Sandy. The company has already rolled out service to the downtown area of Big Sandy and parts of Eva and invested over $1.4 million into broadband infrastructure in Benton County.
“We are very pleased to see the expansion and creation of new Broadband & Fiber access and opportunities for Benton County citizens and businesses, but especially for the north end of Benton County as it is one of our most under-served areas,” states Mayor of Benton County, Brett Lashlee. “Unfortunately, prior to becoming County Mayor, Benton County was ranked 94 out of 95 in broadband accessibility and expanding broadband in the county is one of my highest priorities. Combined with the impact of COVID on our school system, the lack of affordable and quality access has greatly impacted our school’s ability to provide educational instruction via broadband in the homes. Additionally, the COVID era has shown the importance and dependence on quality broadband fiber options from our business community as well, as many businesses and employees today are working out of their residences.
Reliable internet service has become more important than ever, providing benefits like the ability to work from home, and to attend online education and virtual doctor’s appointments. Newly gained access to high-speed broadband also greatly improves the economic landscape for existing businesses and for potential businesses that want to locate in the Big Sandy area.
“TEC’s goal is to support rural communities by providing a reliable, high-quality, and affordable internet solution for their home or business,” said Joey Garner, TEC’s Executive Vice President.
“We are grateful to expand this existing project and for the opportunity to serve even more customers with this much-needed service.”
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The project covers more than 20 miles and will connect 500 residential and business customers to Fast Fiber Internet, providing symmetrical Gigabit speeds, and home phone services to Big Sandy. 1 Gig internet connections give the best online experience for streamers, gamers, social media users, and families with multiple users at home. If you are interested in signing up for service, go to www.TEC.com/SignUp to complete a quick form.