Bay Springs, Mississippi (June 27, 2023) – TEC, a leading rural broadband provider, has completed construction on another project in Covington County. This project will provide connectivity to more than 475 residential and business customers by expanding access to Gigabit speed internet to an estimated 72 miles in Covington County. TEC was one of 386 competing companies in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction held in November of 2020, which awarded $9 billion for the provision of broadband internet to unserved and underserved areas throughout the United States. With the assistance of the FCC, TEC will fund the building and delivery of broadband access to portions of Copiah, Covington, Jasper, Lawrence, Lincoln, Newton, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith counties. Once all phases are complete, this project will bring Fast Fiber Internet access to more than 23,000 residential and business customers in rural Mississippi. This widespread access to high-speed broadband will accelerate economic growth in these communities, making services such as remote education and telemedicine faster and more reliable.
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.
"TEC is excited to announce the completion of another segment of expanded high-speed internet access in Covington County," said the company's CEO Joey Garner. "With each phase, we are bringing greater connection to residences and businesses in the area, which has been our mission for a century now."
ABOUT THE PROJECT
This project covers an estimated 72 miles and will connect more than 475 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, go to 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 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 at the handle @TECconnects.