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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 telecommunica- tions service while never losing the hometown perspective. And now — 70+ years later — NCTC has expanded to parts of Warren, Grayson, Simpson, Edmonson and Butler counties in Kentucky through a partnership with Warren RECC.

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. 2004 marked a big year in network enhancements with the addition of digital entertainment, high-definition TV, and a new office in Westmo- reland. 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 introduction of local programming on the local channel. 2007 was the year NCTC really expanded its local programming on channels 6 and 15 with local stars and local events, truly differentiating its TV product.

In addition to the fiber build-out, NCTC constructed a new Central Of- fice Annex building in 2011, which houses all of the fiber optic equip- ment to support NCTC’s fiber optic network as well as a data center for future economic development. During 2011 and 2012, NCTC also made significant improvements to its call processing capabilities by upgrading its voice switching equipment. The new switch, known as

a soft switch, provides en- hanced 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! In 2015, NCTC’s service area was recognized as a Smart Rural Commu- nity by NTCA—the Rural Broadband Association. Then, in 2016, the associ- ation 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. In 2019, NCTC partnered with Warren RECC for a pilot project to de- ploy fiber internet to an unserved portion of Warren County. The pi- lot was so successful that the two co-ops continued the partnership into other areas of Warren, Simpson, Grayson, Edmonson, and Butler Counties in Kentucky. A new streaming TV service was deployed in 2022 to give subscribers more options and packages, as well as reduce bulky customer equip- ment. These enhancements allow for more versatile viewing options. Throughout seven decades and countless technology upgrades, one thing remains the same—our unwavering commitment to serving our customers and our community.

2008 began the construc- tion phases of fiber to the home. 2010-2011 were two of the busiest years, as NCTC was awarded the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s Broad- band Stimulus Award. This award ensured all of NCTC’s Tennessee ser- vice area will be built out with the most technologi- cally advanced fiber optic network anywhere in the world! Additionally, Allen County, Kentucky, was up- graded to an all-fiber net- work as well.

directory.nctc.com

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