Knocking it out of the park

Knockingit out ofthe park

Ben Lomand Connect launches door-knocking campaign

BY LISA SAVAGE

After members of Ben Lomand Connect’s door knocking team knock on customers’ doors, they often hear stories praising the power of fast internet service. Some customers tout the opportunities to work from home. Others appreciate how young students can access homework assistance. And that’s just the beginning.

The door-knocking campaign is part of the continuing efforts to expand the fiber network connecting customers to the latest communications services, including phone, TV and internet.

“It’s our goal to reach out to the customers to determine our target areas and areas with the most needs,” says Greg Smartt, broadband operations manager.

Some of the new locations for the fiber network extend outside the traditional Ben Lomand service area, so doorknocking introduces the cooperative to those who might not be familiar with it. Ben Lomand has traditionally served all of Warren, White and Grundy counties, as well as parts of Coffee, Van Buren, DeKalb, Rutherford, Franklin and Marion counties.

“It’s been a good way for us to assess the areas and see what our customers’ needs are,” Smartt says.

EXPANDING THE NETWORK

State and federal grants have supported the expansion of Ben Lomand’s fiber network. It’s the goal of the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Grant to expand broadband access, specifically in areas unlikely to receive broadband service without another funding source.

Broadband Accessibility grants helped expand fiber in the Pocahontas and Sunset Ridge areas. Ben Lomand also received funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service grants to help with the Greentown and Palmer Mountain areas.

The grant applications require a range of information to best identify areas for the expansion, Smartt says.

Community meetings or similar interactions are also a requirement of the grants. To meet this criteria for many of the previous grants, residents were invited to attend informational meetings within their communities.

One of Ben Lomand’s most recent projects — in Pocahontas, Centerpoint and Beech Grove — benefited 700 customers. It ties the Beech Grove area to McMinnville, Smartt says.

“We’re building our fiber network to meet the needs of today and many tomorrows,” he says. “And that is a win-win for everybody. It’s great for our customers and for Ben Lomand.”