Jackson, MS — TEC, a Mississippi-based fiber broadband provider, will bring Fast Fiber Internet to over 23,000 families and businesses in rural Mississippi, connecting more Mississippians with the world. TEC is one of 386 competing companies in the recent 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 won more than $41,200,000 in funding to build and deliver broadband access to Copiah, Covington, Jasper, Lawrence, Lincoln, Newton, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith counties. With TEC’s significant additional investment exceeding $54,600,000, the total project cost will exceed $95,900,000 in total build-out and construction and will greatly expand TEC’s fiber network to improve communication, commerce, education, and quality of life for Mississippians.
TEC is the only Mississippi-based company to independently obtain this scale of funding for the State, exhibiting TEC’s ongoing dedication and commitment to keep people connected.
This investment enables TEC to connect more of Mississippi to the fastest, most consistent internet available, thus improving the daily benefits of internet activities like streaming, shopping, and gaming. Fast Fiber Internet also offers people enhanced opportunities to work from home, earn educational credits, and receive needed medical care through telemedicine. Dependable fiber internet connections make many of life’s obligations easier and more affordable.
Joey Garner
Joey F. Garner, Executive Vice President of TEC, says, “This is an amazing opportunity for our company and the communities we will serve with funding from the FCC. We are so thankful for the chance to improve internet options with Fast Fiber Internet. People need to be connected; we are determined to make that happen in our State’s rural areas. We are committed to improving daily connections and activities as we invest in our fiber network.”
In this project, TEC will construct 2,100 miles of fiber over the next six years to connect homes and businesses to Fast Fiber Internet. Engineering plans are underway, and construction is set to begin in the second quarter of 2021. Interested customers can submit their information to www.TEC.com/SignUp to request access to Fast Fiber Internet.
“This first round of funds from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund will make an incredible difference in the State of Mississippi as we work toward connecting every person to reliable high-speed internet,” commented Mississippi State Senator Roger F. Wicker. “There is much more work left to do, but this strong showing for our state’s internet providers is good news. I will continue working to improve internet access for all Mississippians and ensure the next phases of aid are awarded where they are most needed.”
"I'm incredibly excited about TEC's success in the recent FCC auction, and what these funds will bring to their customers and potentially new customers," said Dane Maxwell, Mississippi Public Service Commission Chairman. "Mississippi is truly leading the nationwide charge on broadband expansion, and it's because of partnerships like this and companies like TEC that invest in expanding their services. I'm very proud of TEC, and I look forward to seeing the results of these investments. We stand ready to partner with TEC on any expansion projects in the future."
TEC provides economic stability to its local service areas, employing over 200 people across Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. Currently, TEC has invested in and maintains approximately 3,700 miles of copper and over 1,500 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 rural markets more than 20 years ago. For more information, visit www.TEC.com.