Bay Springs, Mississippi (February 8, 2023) – TEC, a leading rural broadband provider, has broken ground on an expansion in Covington County. This undertaking will provide connectivity to more than 700 homes and businesses, increasing Gigabit-speed internet coverage by an estimated 52 miles. Once complete, this project will allow access to 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 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction held in November 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 Copiah, Covington, Jasper, Lawrence, Lincoln, Newton, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith counties.
“I am thrilled to see the progress TEC is making in Covington County because Fast Fiber Internet brings a wealth of opportunities. From education to work to entertainment, everything becomes easier,” said Jan Collins, Vice President of Communications and Government Relations at Southern Pine Electric. She continues, “I’m so happy for our Southern Pine members who are going to benefit from TEC’s latest expansion.”
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.
“With every expansion project that TEC completes, more and more rural Mississippi residents and businesses have access to a fast, dependable internet connection,” said CEO Joey Garner. “We are excited to begin construction that will increase this access to the people of Covington County.”
ABOUT THE PROJECT
As mentioned, this undertaking will cover an estimated 52 miles and will connect more than 700 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 nearly 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.