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CONNECTION SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

BROADBAND: EDUCATION EDITION

CONNECTED CONGREGATION An Ardmore church shares its message online

DIGITAL RESOURCE Going beyond books at Ardmore Public Library

SHAPING A GENERATION Broadband educates tomorrowâ€™s workforce

FROM THE CEO

Education and the ‘Digital Divide’

ave you heard of the so-called “Digital Divide”? Whether or not you’re familiar with the term, know this: It’s something we’re working every day to eliminate.

Experts use the digital divide to describe the disadvantage of rural Americans who lack the same access to broadband networks Chief Executive Officer as internet users in urban and suburban areas. While national statistics back up the existence of the divide, there are plenty of exceptions. Many of our peers in the rural telecom industry have built cutting-edge fiber optic networks with faster connections than those available in many cities. Such connections are available in some areas we serve with fiber optics, and we’re working hard to expand those networks every day. We’ve just wrapped up work on one job in New Market while getting ready to start another, and we have started to expand the network in Elkmont. The most recent New Market project cost an estimated $1.5 million, covering 26 miles and around 800 homes. The next New Market exchange project will cover 90% of the remaining portion of the New Market area. This $4.5 million-project will take about 15 months to complete and span 80 miles. In Elkmont, this build is estimated at $1.6 million and will span 30 miles and pass 625 homes and businesses. It will take about six months to complete. But while combating the digital divide in North Alabama and Tennessee is never far from my mind, a column I saw in The Tennessean in July caught my attention. The piece, under the headline, “Students of rural Tennessee struggle from the digital divide,” was from Kris Amundson, former president of the National Association of State Boards of Education, as well as a former lawmaker and school board member in Virginia. She cites statistics that indicate rural students are likely to have unreliable and slow internet connections, even though they are the students who could benefit most from online education tools. One line in particular really stood out to me: “We know that in order to help all students achieve, they must have more technology at home where they can do homework, read online, code and fall in love with computers just as Bill Gates did when he was a child.” Do we have a future Bill Gates living in our service area? It’s impossible to know. But what I do know is that without the technology to access educational opportunities, our kids are never going to reach their full potential. As you’ll read in the pages of this magazine, broadband is opening up opportunities for rural Americans. Whether they’re elementary school students exploring science, high schoolers preparing for the ACT, or adults taking distance learning courses and online training, our network helps bring a world of educational resources to our area. As outlined above, you can see our efforts to build our network to meet your needs. If you have a broadband need that's not being met today, please call us so we can evaluate potential solutions. When it comes to a broadband connection, many people may think about the resulting entertainment options and conveniences like streaming movies and smart home devices. But those benefits pale in comparison to the life-changing opportunities broadband can provide people who want to better themselves. That’s why we work so hard to expand and improve our network, and that’s why I’m proud to serve you. 

TREVOR BONNSTETTER

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CONNECTION SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

VOL. 8, NO. 5

is a hometown service provider delivering advanced telecommunications technology to the people of Giles and Lincoln counties in Tennessee and Limestone and Madison counties in Alabama. The company is managed by Telecom Management Services and owned by Synergy Technology Partners.

Ardmore Telephone Company P.O. Box 549 Ardmore, TN 38449 Telephone: 256-423-2131 or 800-830-9946 www.ardmore.net Ardmore Office: 30190 Ardmore Ave. Ardmore, AL 35739 Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

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On the Cover: Ardmore First Baptist Church Pastor Alan Hughes uses an iPad to prepare his weekly sermon. See story Page 8.

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FIBER UPDATE The current phase of the fiber build in New Market was completed in August. As for the rest of the installation in that exchange, ATC is working on contractual approval. Once that is set, that project will take about 15 months to complete. In Elkmont, ATC is working with a contractor, and completion is expected in about six months. Once complete, 625 homes and businesses will have access to fiber. Ardmore Telephone Company

Labor Day closing Ardmore Telephone Company will close on Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of Labor Day. Have a great holiday!

Every digging project requires that you call the one-call center before digging — even small projects like planting trees or shrubs. If you hit an underground utility line while digging, you could harm yourself and those around you and disrupt vital services to an entire neighborhood or community. You could also be responsible for fines and repair costs. Simply dial “811” to reach the onecall center, regardless of where you are digging. Digging safely means calling 811 before each job. Whether you are a homeowner or a professional excavator, your call to 811 allows affected facility operators to locate and mark their underground facilities in the area in which you are digging. There is no cost to you — even the call is free — so call 811 before you dig! If you can’t connect to the onecall center by dialing 811, dial 1-888-258-0808 to get a toll-free, direct-dial number for the one-call center in your area. Remember, it is your responsibility — you must call before digging.

September/October 2019 | 5

First Baptist Church Ardmore pastor Alan Hughes studies in his office.

Plugged in First Baptist Church Ardmore is connected with fiber technology BY LISA SAVAGE

ost Sunday mornings, 95-year-old Dorothy Drummond settles into her favorite chair in her family’s living room to enjoy the music and morning message at First Baptist Church Ardmore. Drummond hasn’t been able to attend services in several years because of her health, but thanks to the church’s technology, she can watch the service from home. Her son, Phillip Drummond, connects to the church Facebook page on his MacBook and uses AirPlay to display the

8 | September/October 2019

livestream on their big-screen television. “It’s not the same as being there, but it makes her feel like she’s been to church and that she’s part of the service,” he says. The family is part of a growing number who watch Sunday morning services online, says the Rev. Alan Hughes. The Drummonds are longtime members at the church, and at times, Dorothy Drummond feels up to staying at home alone while her son attends the service. “When we do that, we’ll play the Facebook video back and watch later during the week,” he says. The livestream is ideal for members on vacation or those who are unable to attend for reasons such as sickness. It also works well for people who have never been to a service and want to see what it’s like.

CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY First Baptist Church Ardmore, established in 1915 and located just down the street from the downtown area, remains a cornerstone of the community. “It’s a place for everyone,” Hughes says. A local radio station broadcast the church service live for years. But with the latest technology, the church now records a video of the service and uses a Facebook livestream to broadcast. “We had a lot of people who listened to the service, but it’s a great addition being able to watch instead of just listen,” Hughes says. A service might have a few hundred views by the end of the week, says C.J. Barnett, who leads worship and coordinates much of the church’s technology use. All it takes is a camera and high-speed broadband to livestream on Facebook. It’s also set up to view later. “One week, we had 70 views,” Barnett says. “We had 194 views the week before that and 212 the week after. There’s really no way to know what drives the number of views each week, but if attendance is high, streaming numbers are low and vice versa.” The use of the church’s website and social media required access to high-speed Ardmore Telephone Company

internet through Ardmore Telephone Company, and those platforms help get more information to more members. “Before we upgraded our internet, sometimes service was spotty, and that made it hard to post information on our website or social media,” Barnett says. The Facebook page and other social media platforms, such as Twitter and Instagram, are a great place for updates about church services and other information. “Between livestreaming and social media, we have reached people in a way we would never have been able to before,” Hughes says. “And it’s all because of the capabilities we have with fiber internet and the speeds it provides.” The church’s interactive website provides a means for giving online and opportunities to preregister for events like Vacation Bible School or sign up for email and text updates.

C.J. Barnett coordinates much of the technology used during worship services.

PREPARATION IS KEY Hughes — a pastor for the last 23 years, nine of those at First Baptist Church Ardmore — loves using books to study. Now, internet technology gives him additional options with information he might not have on hand. “I basically have access to anything I need without having to buy a new book,” he says. Technology is expanding the church’s outreach and streamlining church operations. Classrooms use presentation software for slideshows and other technology-based activities. Having broadband internet helps tremendously in preparation for the week’s services, Barnett says. Song lyrics, Scripture and other information are displayed on a large projection screen and monitors during the service, which helps keep the congregation involved from beginning to end, Barnett says. It takes him less than five minutes to develop slides for the selection of songs to display the music. With a blended style of music, there’s something for everyone. “Before we had these capabilities, we had to type all the song lyrics in to have them ready for a slide, and it might take between 10 and 20 minutes just for one song,” Barnett says. Ardmore Telephone Company

First Baptist Church Ardmore is on 5th Street.

“Now, we can use apps and other programs that make it much easier.” Nothing can take the place of a live service, Hughes says. “This is just an extra tool that allows us to reach more people. It’s a great opportunity, and we’re excited to be able to do it.” 

Learn more about First Baptist Church Ardmore at ardmorefbc.org, on Facebook or by calling 256-423-2000.

September/October 2019 | 9

THE IMPACT OF BROADBAND: EDUCATION EDITION

Check it out

MORE THAN BOOKS AT ARDMORE PUBLIC LIBRARY BY LISA SAVAGE

erlin Collins helped organize and label books at New Sharon School when she was in the eighth grade and later continued her library work at Hazel Green High School. Now, many years later, she works to organize books on a different level as the director at Ardmore Public Library in Tennessee. “I have always loved books,” she says. “I was so thrilled when I went for the interview. This is a dream job for me.” She began part time in 2007 and transitioned to full time as the library grew. “Our library has come a long way since it started 42 years ago,” she says.

Verlin Collins is the director of the Ardmore Public Library.

HUB OF THE COMMUNITY Ardmore Public Library serves residents from both sides of the state line and is a hub of activity for the communities, hosting events like dominoes tournaments for senior citizens, summer babysitter training for teens and CPR classes through the American Red Cross. The facility hosts the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program income tax service, which provides free preparation for seniors and middle- to lowincome families. There are also regularly scheduled book clubs. “We have programs and activities for just about any age,” Collins says. About half the patrons come from Ardmore, Tennessee, while the rest come from Ardmore, Alabama, as well as parts of Limestone and Madison counties in Alabama and Giles and Lincoln counties in Tennessee. The library boasts a circulation of well over 40,000 books, and patrons also can access thousands of e-books through the Tennessee Regional eBook & Audiobook Download System. 12 | September/October 2019

THE LIBRARY’S HISTORY Ardmore first had access to library books through the Blue Grass Regional Library bookmobile from Columbia, Tennessee. “They began leaving books at the Lewter’s Hardware store,” she says. “The first few books were circulated through the honor system and were later checked out by signing the borrower’s name.” As circulation continued to increase throughout the early 1970s, a group of local women decided Ardmore needed a library of its own. In 1977, Ardmore Community Library opened in Tennessee inside Ardmore City Hall with joint funding from both border towns and 1,000 books from the Regional Library Service of the Tennessee State Library. Patrons paid 25 cents for a library card, and the volunteer-run library only opened a few hours a week. Before the end of that year, the first librarian was hired. By 2004, the library had become fully automated, and a grant provided for four public computers with internet access. With steady growth, it soon qualified to become a public library, and in 2008 it was moved to a new, 4,000-square-foot building on Main Street. By then, the library had over 5,000 patrons and a circulation of 27,870 books. “When I first came here, we were still using the card in the back of the book to check books out,” Collins says. “It took us a year and a half to get the system fully automated.” Including Collins, the library has two full-time employees, two part-time employees and 12 regular volunteers. The facility expanded through the years to 6,600 square feet and now includes a children’s area, historical room, meeting spaces and a kitchen.

UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY The library has 12 public computers connected to Ardmore Telephone Company’s broadband internet. The robust connection provides access to create resumes, check websites for jobs and attend online classes and training. Patrons can use their own devices to access the free Wi-Fi, which is available 24 hours a day. Ardmore Telephone Company

“For someone who doesn’t have access to the internet, they can come to the library and use the Wi-Fi from the parking lot anytime,” Collins says. The city of Ardmore, Tennessee, provides the building and salaries, and Ardmore, Alabama, also provides some financial support, along with the state of Tennessee. Friends of the Library, a nonprofit group, and other donors raised about $125,000 through donations and grants for the new children’s room. “We love the support we get from the community,” Collins says. “We are blessed to have the support that we do. We couldn’t have the library services without that support. 

Stefanie League and her daughter, Arlys, use a computer at the Ardmore Public Library.

Ardmore Telephone Company

The Ardmore Public Library is located at 25836 Main St., Ardmore, Tennessee. Updates on Facebook provide information about events at the Ardmore Public Library. For more information, call the library at 931-427-4883. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Tuesdays Treasures • First Tuesday — crafts and informational programs • Second Tuesday — Book Club • Third Tuesday — Sewing Club • Fourth Tuesday — Project Sweet Peas of Alabama meets to load backpacks with supplies for families of premature babies at several hospital locations. • All Tuesdays Treasures sessions begin at 10 a.m. Additional events • 1 p.m. every Tuesday — Scrabble • 1 p.m. every Thursday — Dominoes • 10 a.m. every Wednesday during the school year — Story Time for preschoolers • Summer reading program for four weeks during the summer

Anthony Generette with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program helps Bobbie Demetrion with her taxes. September/October 2019 | 13

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