Mel Pennington

Facilitating community and exploring new/creative ways of getting people together.

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 deregulated the nations biggest telephone, cable and broadcast companies, allowing individual communities a great opportunity.  Several state and local governments have launched public and private projects that involve an advanced telecommunications infrastructure.  For these communities this investment has proven to encourage economic development and enhance governmental information services. These initiatives can strengthen education while supporting the role of local libraries.  Many cities, particularly those that manage their own utilities, have developed, or are considering, advanced telecommunications network for the entire community.

GREENLIGHT is North Carolina’s only all fiber optic network, providing fast internet access, superior HD cable images and a dependable phone service plan that includes unlimited long distance to US and Canada. Marketed as the fastest internet speeds in North Carolina, Greenlight runs at 10Mbps – 100Mbps.  To get a better example of just how fast that is -Time Warner Cable’s Road Runner “TURBO” is typically 10Mbps.  The City of Wilson gets better telecommunication services for the same price.

For $99.95 TWC offers Standard Cable (10 Mbps) and Digital Phone Nationwide Service.  For the same price Greenlight gives citizens quicker internet, more cable channels and unlimited long distance.

Wilson NC is enjoying the benefits of developing its own infrastructure, Greenlight is a revenue stream, creating jobs, bolstering business and giving people incentive to move to the city.

And it is entirely possible for Hartsville to do the same.   With a simple internet cable we link ourselves to something greater, improving our way of life and making it a little easier to connect.   Making the city better is not only accomplished by changing the landscape.  It also involves embracing new technologies,  investing in the future.

In July United States Congressman James Clyburn organized a conference call to provide information and encouragement to potential S.C. applicants for the funding of Internet capabilities in underserved areas. Grants would be given under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 which provided $7.2 billion to the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service.  That is $7.2 billion that can be used to to accelerate broadband deployment in areas of the country that have been without the high-speed infrastructure – $4.7 billion in grants from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and $2.5 billion in loans and grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service.

Clyburn recognizes the importance of this initiative, stating, “Internet access is key to education and employment in today’s society. Areas like the I-95 corridor cannot compete in a global economy if they don’t have the broadband infrastructure available to support sustainable communities.”

By investing in a Hartsville fiber optic network we can create a revenue stream, create new jobs and potentially lower taxes, making sure our town is fully equipped to compete in the 21st century.