NCTC joins with fellow telcos to take concerns of rural consumers to Tennessee state capital Leaders from Tennessee’s independent telecommunications companies met with state government leaders recently to discuss legislation impacting rural consumers. The Tennessee Telecommunications Association (TTA) held its annual “TTA Day on the Hill,” with executives from cooperative and independent broadband and phone providers gathering at the state capital to express their concerns about bills that would threaten their ability to deliver affordable broadband service to the state’s rural regions. “We are particularly concerned about four bills that have been introduced this session,” says Levoy Knowles, TTA’s executive director. “These bills would allow municipalities to expand beyond their current footprint and offer broadband in our service areas. If this were to happen, municipalities could cherry-pick our more populated areas, leaving the more remote, rural consumers to bear the high cost of delivering broadband to these less populated regions.”
Despite weather, fiber project continues smoothly
NCTC contractors get a boring machine ready as they install fiber. North Central crews have endured months of cold weather and rain while installing fiber over the winter, but improving weather means faster broadband is on the way. Construction continues in the Siloam and Rocky Mound areas, while Keystone is the next targeted area. Work will wrap up soon, and fiber will be available in the Clark Hollow and Turner Station areas. In addition to these communities, construction is complete and service is currently available in the following locations: Fairfield, Pleasant Shade, Defeated, Oak Grove, Pleasant Hill, Mount Vernon, Bethpage, Westmoreland, Maple Grove, Fairground and Golf Course areas as well as the Lafayette city limits. North Central
Members of the Tennessee Telecommunications Association, including North Central CEO Nancy White, second row, far left, met with Gov. Haslam during their visit in Nashville. Seventeen TTA members participated in the event, including North Central CEO Nancy White. Participants met with Speaker of the House Beth Harwell and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey. Rep. Pat Marsh, Chair of the House Business and Utility Committee, also met with the group, along with committee Vice Chair Rep. Art Swann. Later in the day, the group enjoyed a brief visit with Gov. Bill Haslam.
Calling all entries for the annual NCTC photo contest Are you a shutterbug? Ever dreamed of having your photos published for thousands of people to see? Here’s your chance! North Central is seeking entries for its annual photo contest. The winners will be featured in a 2015 calendar. This year’s theme is animals (pets, farm animals, wildlife, etc.) and nature. The deadline for entries is July 31. Please email photos to amy.phelps@nctc.com. Please take note of the following guidelines in order to be considered: Participants must be NCTC members. The photo must be landscape, or horizontal, in orientation. The photo must be taken in NCTC’s service area. Permission must be secured if the photo is taken of someone else’s property. A name, NCTC phone number, and photo location must be included with each entry. May/June 2014 | 5