Bay Springs, Mississippi (August 2, 2023) – TEC, a leading rural broadband provider, has broken ground on a project in Simpson County. This undertaking will extend Gigabit-speed internet coverage by an estimated 67 miles, providing connectivity to more than 680 residential and business customers. TEC was one of the 386 competitors in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction, which awarded $9 billion among competing broadband companies to extend essential broadband access to unserved and underserved areas. With FCC's assistance, TEC will provide Fast Fiber Internet to over 23,000 rural Mississippi residents and businesses in Copiah, Covington, Jasper, Lawrence, Lincoln, Newton, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith counties. As the project progresses through its various phases, it will bring about widespread access to high-speed broadband, propelling these communities towards accelerated economic growth.
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 kick off construction in the Simpson County area," said Joey Garner, CEO of TEC. "With every phase we undertake, more and more Mississippians can take full advantage of the conveniences that TEC's Fast Fiber Internet can provide for our residential and business customers.”
ABOUT THE PROJECT
This undertaking will cover an estimated 67 miles and connect more than 680 residential and business customers to Fast Fiber Internet, providing symmetrical Gigabit speeds and home phone services to an expanded portion of Simpson 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 or call us at 833-832-3423.
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 under the handle, @TECconnects.