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NCTC: Providing Solutions To Our Members For More Than 70 Years

In March of 1951, NCTC, Inc., was the solution to a challenge: how to connect the rural communities of Clay, Macon, Smith, Sumner, and Trousdale counties in Tennessee, and Allen County in Kentucky with state-of-the-art telecommu- nications service while never losing the hometown perspective. And now — 70 years later — NCTC can say that it still maintains that same goal of local service with a global approach.

A lot has changed over the last 70 years. NCTC has grown to provide service to approximately 20,000 members/subscribers throughout the Upper Cumberland of Tennessee and Kentucky. Our service mission has never wavered. Only the technology has changed. NCTC encompasses the spectrum of consumer-based telecommuni- cations for the 21st century, including digital telephone service ( 1969 ), practical technology of advanced calling features ( which have been continuously updated since 1987 ), the expansion of services adding cellular partnerships, equal access to long-distance carriers ( 1992 ), Long Distance ( 1998 ), local Internet dial-up and dedicated accounts ( 1995 ), and the availability of Digital Subscriber Line ( 2000 ). And the monumental new network in Scottsville City, providing local telephone service, Internet/DSL and video services, was introduced in 2002.

2008 began the construction phases of fiber to the home. With de- ployment of IPTV in 2009, NCTC is able to offer HDTV, DVR, on screen Caller ID, and an interactive programming guide. 2010-2011 were two of the busiest years, as NCTC was awarded the American Recov-

ery and Reinvestment Act’s Broadband Stimulus Award. This award ensured all of NCTC’s Tennessee service area will be built out with the most technologically ad- vanced fiber optic network anywhere in the world! Fiber construction in Allen County, KY, is also well underway. In addition to the fiber build- out, NCTC constructed a new Central Office Annex building in 2011, which will house all of the fiber op- tic equipment to support

2004 marked a big year in network enhance- ments with the addition of digital entertain- ment, high-definition TV, and a new office in Westmoreland. In 2005, as part of its ongoing commitment to the communi- ty, NCTC added a local school channel for school events and sports while also continuing to expand the service area for Digital TV. 2006 brought online bill payment capabilities and the intro- duction of local programming on the local channel. 2007 was the year NCTC really

NCTC’s fiber optic network as well as a data center for future eco- nomic development. During 2011 and 2012, NCTC also made signifi- cant improvements to its call processing capabilities by upgrading its voice switching equipment. The new switch, known as a soft switch, provides enhanced capabilities, while doing it more efficiently—the old switch took up an entire 34 x 34 room, but the new soft switch now takes up the space of a gym locker! North Central Cloud Solutions was introduced in 2014. Through the Cloud, NCTC offers networking services including off-site data back- up, disaster recovery, and secure data storage. In 2015, NCTC’s ser- vice area was recognized as a Smart Rural Community by NTCA—the Rural Broadband Association. Then, in 2016, the association certified NCTC as a Gig Capable Provider. Additionally, beginning in 2017, as part of a USDA Community Con- nect Grant, NCTC expanded its Tennessee reach into northern Trous- dale County, Parker Thurman in Sumner County and Riddleton / Dixon Springs in Smith County, where residents previously had no access to broadband. Later that same year, NCTC also expanded to include portions of Warren County, Kentucky. While NCTC now offers one of the most advanced networks in the world, our focus remains clear: our members. NCTC has been, and always will be, dedicated to the communities it serves.

expanded its local programming on channels 6 and 15 with local stars and local

events, truly differentiating its TV product.

directory.nctc.com

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