Tombigbee Fiber helps a foundation and others in rural areas get high-speed internet access - video

Tombigbee Fiber is helping its members acquire high-speed internet.

The Wesley Foundation at Itawamba Community College in Fulton is excited to offer new high-speed wireless internet to students.

Areas continue to struggle with a lack of high speed internet access.

Now one local electric power association is working with a college organization to make sure students have a place to work with good wifi.

W-t-v-a's bronson woodruff joins us now live from fulton with how students are reacting.

Here at itawamba community college's wesley foundation, students are enjoying the covenient new internet.

."

" it's nothing but lightning speed."

Today, i-c-c's wesley foundation formally made its new internet access available to people.

Organizers hosted a free lunch with music to kick off the new era of high-speed service, thanks to tombigbee fiber.

Isaac floyd is a student at i-c-c.

He doesn't have enough good to say about the new service.

"and it's awesome because we are able to like stream music better, i can watch videos better, and get my studies done quicker."

"i come over here to study a lot.

Student kaylee heidger of mooreville said the internet service is a huge help.

"dorm room, it's not the best because, you know, it's a dorm room, but anytime i'm over here, the internet is phenomenal."

Standup: "this is the wesley's new wi-fi receiver.

Folks who spoke here today said this is going to make a big impact on the students here at the wesley foundation."

Emily quinn is director of the wesley foundation.

She said the service makes work smoother at wesley.

"to download sermons or videos, normally they would take us up to three hours, and now they take like eight minutes."

Quinn added on fridays, they let virtual learning students in grades k-12 as well.

She said they're welcome to come in on fridays from 9:30 in the morning to three in the afternoon.

"just bring a mask and bring earbuds."

Tombigbee fiber spokesperson matt fennell said the company partnered with the wesley foundation early on in its fiber project.

"we really want to bridge the gap with the digital divide.

We are, uh, especially this day and time, we see the pandemic and the need for high- speed internet coverage."

Fennell said tombigbee got into the fiber business about a year ago and has come a long way.

According to floyd, tombigbee fiber is helping his future to look bright.

"i just want to say thank you to the tombigbee electric power association for their high-speed internet, and for giving us students the opportunity to succeed."

Tombigbee electric power association serves over forty thousand members in lee and itawamba counties.

Live in fulton, bronson woodruff, w-t-v-a nine news.

If