September 19, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
Celebrating 70 years of service!
DTC Communications is turning 70 this year. Established in 1951 as DeKalb Telephone Cooperative, DTC began with a mission to keep people connected with basic telephone service. As technology has evolved and changed with the times, so have the services provided by DTC and today, seven decades later, the local cooperative continues to make meaningful connections.
In his address during the annual meeting Saturday, Chris Townson, CEO of DTC Communications, talked about the foresight of the founding fathers of DTC along with today’s board of directors and how their vision has paved the way in transforming the cooperative from a basic telephone company into a world-class fiber broadband provider which continues to grow.
“The people who launched our cooperative 70 years ago understood the importance of technology and how it makes our lives better. In the 7 decades that followed, DTC Communications has maintained that same philosophy. We have evolved with technology and continue bringing cutting edge services to the people in our region. We’ve transitioned from a basic telephone company into a world-class fiber broadband provider that is leading our communities into the future,” said Townson
“When I think about this proud history, and where we are today, one phrase keeps coming to mind – We Are Making Meaningful Connections”.
“Like the telephone before it, broadband keeps us connected to each other – to work, school and the people we love. But broadband does so much more than keep us connected. It opens a world that we would not have without it. It creates opportunities to expand our education through distance learning and online courses. It provides healthcare opportunities through Telehealth medicine. And it creates opportunities for economic development by providing the internet speeds almost all industries now require,” Townson continued.
“Broadband is a necessary part of modern-day life. This is something we have known for years. State and federal leaders are also realizing how important broadband is to rural America. That’s why Congress recently passed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill that includes $65 billion for broadband expansion. The state of Tennessee has now also designated $500 million to expand broadband to unserved and underserved areas. As you likely remember from previous reports, DTC is already utilizing state and federal grants to aid our fiber expansion into portions of Smith, Wilson and Trousdale Counties. These grant-enabled builds provide a return on investment that helps keep our members’ costs low as well. It really is a win for all involved,” said Townson.
“Fiber optic technology is the fastest, most reliable broadband available anywhere, and it is hailed as a future-proof technology that will continue to shape our world and improve our way of life. Knowing this, DTC set out 5 years ago to ensure that every member would be connected to it. This technology is life-changing for our members, and the following statistics prove it:
•Since 2016, DTC has seen a 60% increase in broadband subscriptions.
•Since 2016, Internet usage has increased over 1,000%.
•Since 2016, DTC has built over 1,400 miles of mainline fiber and will build another 700 miles over the next couple of years.
•In 2016, DTC had approximately 400 fiber-eligible premises and will have approximately 27,000 fiber-eligible premises by 2024.
•In 2020, DTC connected approximately 4,000 customers to our fiber network and that number will likely pass 6,000 in 2021.
•DTC’s 2021 revenues are projected to top $30 million, and our spending is directly in line with approved budgets, placing us in a strong financial position to continue building and meeting the needs of our members for decades to come”.
“We understand how important this technology is to you, and we are proud of the difference we are making to keep our communities connected. Our Board of Directors and Employees are committed to bringing this state-of-the-art technology to you,” said Townson
“In his address, Mr. (Bennie) Curtis mentioned the continued progress we are making toward getting fiber to every DTC member. This is only happening because of the leadership of this board of directors, the hard work of this group of employees, and you – our members – for your continued loyalty and commitment to DTC and the communities we serve”.
“Thank you all. Here’s to Making Meaningful Connections for another 70 years”.