Bay Springs Miss (March 3, 2021)-- TEC, a leading provider of fiber internet to rural communities, has completed its first project in Raleigh as part of an estimated $96 million investment to provide high-speed broadband access to more than 23,000 families and businesses in central Mississippi. TEC was one of 386 companies competing in the November 2020 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction—a program that awarded $9 billion to provide high-speed internet to unserved and underserved areas throughout the United States. TEC's investment, combined with assistance from the FCC, will fund the construction and delivery of broadband access to Copiah, Covington, Jasper, Lawrence, Lincoln, Newton, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith counties over the next six years.
“If you were to look at any of the work-from-home or telework type environments, you’ve got to have the capacity for bandwidth, up and down, and that’s got to be a consistent connection that always is going to be available,” says Raleigh resident Larry Bryant. “TEC’s going to offer us that when we did not have that before. That’s not even a possibility with AT&T or the current service providers in this area. With this, we’re going to go from being able to have a business if we wanted to or whatever or be global!" He added, "We did not have that before. Everybody else on Earth...they’ve had that around in places that you would not think would have it.”
Raleigh residents can now enjoy access to Fast Fiber Internet, and installations are already underway. This connection to high-speed broadband unlocks access to vital technology such as telemedicine, distance learning, and work-from-home options. Additionally, high-speed broadband can provide personal entertainment, such as streaming videos or gaming.
“This is an exciting time for residents of Raleigh and TEC,” said TEC President and CEO, Joey Garner. “Access to reliable internet is now more important than ever and we look forward to continuing our efforts to expand reliable, affordable internet options to rural communities. We are grateful for this opportunity to expand our high-speed service to the Raleigh area.”
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The current project completed more than 50 miles of fiber infrastructure and connects over 500 residential and business customers to Fast Fiber Internet, providing symmetrical Gigabit speeds, home security, and phone services to the Raleigh community. 1 Gig internet connections give the best online experience for streamers, gamers, social media users, and families with multiple users at home.