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During Hayneville Telephone Company’s recent Customer Appreciation Day, the company informed attendees of its plans to significantly expand access to high-speed internet in Lowndes County and surrounding communities.

The company announced a survey is currently being conducted to assess interest in this service for the Ackerville, Allenton, Carlowville, Furman, Pleasant Hill, McWilliams, Pine Apple, Richmond, Sardis, and Mt. Nebo communities, with results from the survey to be used in any future applications for grants enabling these much needed and important services to be provided.

With so many of our day-to-day functions dependent upon reliable and quality internet speed and access, expansion of high-speed internet into rural portions of Alabama is long overdue.

The evolution of how we use the internet in modern society certainly has been a unique process. While some out there may view the internet as a means of entertainment via the many streaming services, online games, and social media platforms in existence, just as many people use the internet in a practical manner to pay bills online, manage their businesses, or complete tasks as simple as ordering pizza. The most important aspect, though, is allowing our children the ability to do their school work from home, or access reading material that is required to complete or enhance their education.

Many in our rural communities have been left behind when it comes to internet accessibility, and it’s wonderful to finally see residents receive an opportunity to experience the both small and significant conveniences high-speed internet offers.

As these advances creep into our coverage area, we look forward to hearing stories about how having access to better quality internet has benefitted people’s lives, whether they decide to launch a YouTube cooking channel, join others online playing their favorite video games while streaming via Twitch, or do something as mundane as paying their bills online.

We applaud Hayneville Telephone Company for doing its part to help connect our communities in our modernized world. Keep up the great work.