AL • DE • FL • GA • MS • NC • SC • TN Nanette S
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B U R R ·:· FOR MAN M ~ I\J /\ I J""'' M. John Bowen, Jr. 11111 I S.. : "111 111;111 I ,I r» jbowen @burr.com I '.''JI ,\1 , 11II 'it I l l 'I Direct Dial: (803) 753-3205 Direct Fax: (803) 933-1514 '>11i1,· IHOO ( n l11111l1i", .'i( · "'1" 01 M11ili11p, ,/rfrl1n, l'osl 01'/it c llo x I I 3'J() C o lurnbi;i, SC 2\121 I 0//iu (80:1) 7')!)-9800 /·i"· (803) 7:i'.1-:~27H March 17, 2020 I\ l/ R I{ . C O ,\ I VIA EMAIL ([email protected]) and via U.S. Postal Service Nanette S. Edwards, Esq. Executive Director Office of Regulatory Staff 1401 Main Street, Ste. 850 Columbia, SC 29201 Re: South Carolina Telephone Coalition Actions as to COVID-19 Dear Ms. Edwards: We are writing to apprise you of the efforts rural telephone companies throughout the State (known as the "South Carolina Telephone Coalition") are taking to address the needs of South Carolina, and particularly the State's students, during this time of school closings due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. First, each of the South Carolina Telephone Coalition member companies is taking specific actions to effectuate FCC Chairman Pai' s Pledge to Keep Americans Connected during the coronavirus outbreak. The Keep Americans Connected Pledge reads as follows: "Given the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on American society, each of the South Carolina Telephone Coalition member companies pledges for the next 60 days to: (1) not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic; (2) waive any late fees that any residential or small business customers incur because of their economic circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic; and (3) open its Wi-Fi hotspots to any American who needs them." In addition, the South Carolina Telephone Coalition member companies have committed to providing discounted services to qualifying households with school-age children. The 43181298 vl AL • DE • FL • GA • MS • NC • SC • TN Nanette S. Edwards, Esq. March 17, 2020 Page 2 companies also will work with their respective local school districts to assist with any additional needs they may be able to address, including developing additional Wi-Fi hotspots where needed and feasible. Each individual company has issued a press release detailing its efforts to address the needs of its own local community. We have attached those press releases to this letter. We have also attached a list of the companies and their contact information to help facilitate communication and coordination of efforts. We hope that you will find this information helpful. The rural telephone companies have been committed for many decades to serving their communities, and will continue that commitment during these trying times. Very truly yours, Burr & Forman LLP M. ~ Jr Atton ey for the South Carolina Te.le hone Coalition MJB/khh Attachment 43181298 vl Nanette S. Edwards, Esq . March 17, 2020 Page 3 South Carolina Telephone Coalition Companies and Contact Information March 17, 2020 Chesnee Telephone Company General Contact: Edward Hinson Tel: (336) 876-6302 Email: edwa:[email protected] Service Inquiries: (864) 461-2211 Comporium General Contact: Matthew Dosch Tel: (803) 326-7287 Email: rnatt.d rillm.com Customer Service: (888) 403-2667; www.comporium.com Customer Service (Comporium Midlands): (800) 258-7978 Farmers Telephone Cooperative (FTC) General Contact: Chip Chase Tel: (803) 968-6098 Email: [email protected] Customer Service: (888) 218-5050; www .ftc.net Hargray Communications General Contact: Karen Cline, Digital Marketing & PR Manager Tel: (843) 341-1567 Email: [email protected]. om Service Inquiries: (877) 427-4729; www.hargray.com 43181298 vl Nanette S. Edwards, Esq. March 17, 2020 Page 4 Home Telecom Questions/General Contact: Gina Shuler Tel: (843) 761-9178 Email: gin .shuler@hom tclco.com Customer Service: (888) 746-4482; www.Hom eSC.c m./Conlact-Us Horry Telephone Cooperative Questions/General Contact: Sarah Bonnoitt Tel: (843) 369-8634 Email: S anb.bonnoitt@ htcinc. □ et Service Inquiries: (843) 365-2154 Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative General Contact: Dewey Ford, Marketing Manager Tel: (843) 538-9090 Customer Service (Walterboro): (843) 538-2020 Customer Service (St. George): (843) 931-1212 Piedmont Rural Telephone Cooperative (PRTC) General Contact: Sharon O'Bryant Tel: (864) 683-3708 Email: [email protected] Service Contact: Tracy Babb Tel: (864) 683-3751 Email: [email protected] 43181298 vl Nanette S. Edwards, Esq. March 17, 2020 Page 5 Sandhill Telephone Cooperative General Contact: C. Lee Chambers, CEO Tel: (843) 658-6379 Email: lee.chambers@mysan dhill.net TDS General Contact: Mike Wanta, Brand Journalist Tel: (608) 664-1096 Email: [email protected] Customer Service: (888) 287-8156 TruVista General Contact: Jeff Lambert Tel: (803) 581-9159 Email: jeff lambert@tru ista.biz Sales/Service: (800) 768-1212 West Carolina Rural Telephone Cooperative General Contact: Virginia Smith Tel: (864) 446-9254 Email: virginia.s1:11jth@wc tel.com Service Contact: Shannon Sears Tel: (864) 446-9267 Email: shannon [email protected] 43181298 vl G hesnee communications ~ A ~rCompMy For immediate release. Contact: Edward Hinson Skyli ne/SkyBest Phone: 336-876-6302 Email: [email protected] Chesnee Communications Providing 60 Days of Free Internet Service to Students Offering Internet to New Customers in Homes with K-12 and Higher Education Students March 17, 2020 With the continuing spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster made the difficult decision to close all public schools for two weeks. Knowing that our students and their parents will need greater access to broadband, Chesnee Communications ijs offering 60 days of free service to new customers in homes where a student lives. We want to make sure that as the need to be connected to the world increases, Chesnee Communications is doing its part to make that easier. Chesnee Communications is offering 60 days of free Standard Broadband service and free installation tol any home that is: • The primary home of a student in kindergarten through high school, in technical school, in college or in graduate school; • Currently without our internet service and that hasn't had internet service with Chesnee Communications for the past 90 days; and • Located where Chesnee Communications would normally provide internet service. We are also waiving installation fees during this time. Chesnee Communications plans to keep this opportunity available to new customers through the end of March and will rei-evaluate it at that time . Chesnee Communications is also committed to working with customers impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) to prevent their internet service from being disconnected during this challenging period. For more than 80 years, we have always made a point to work with our customers in difficult situations to try to keep them connected. We will continue to do that throughout the coronavirus outbreak. We know that during difficult times like this, a connection to work, school and current events in the world is more important than ever. Additionally, Chesnee Communications has already reached out to each County School District to assist them as they prepare to meet their students' needs remotely. As school districts in our area prepare to send their students and teachers home, we will assist them in any way we can to make their jobs easier. Shortly after the governors announced the closing of public schools across the Carolinas, our team began contacting our local school districts' superintendents to discuss ways that we could help devise a solution with regard to connectivity. Our network is designed and ready for events like this. Chesnee Communications has recently made upgrades to both our core network and our field equipment . Even during this trying time, our broadband network is more than capable of handling a dramatic increase in the number of people working and learning from home. Chesnee Communications technicians are also monitoring the network continuously to ensure that they detect and address any problems as soon as possible. Finally, as we stated on March 13, Chesnee Communications has taken steps to ensure our employees' and our customers' safety. Those measures include work and travel policy changes, increased education on illness prevention methods and more stringent practices for disinfecting vehicles and tools between customer visits. We want to ensure that our technicians can continue to serve our community safely, quickly and with the same level of professionalism our customers have come to expect. To find out more, please contact us at 864-461-2211. ChesneeCommunications is a subsidiaryof SkyBestCommunications. As the state's largest telecommunications cooperative, Skyline and its subsidiary, SkyBest Communications, provides advanced communications services and technology solutions across an expanding network in northwest N.C., east/middle Tennessee and upstate South Carolina. With more than 65 years of service to the High Country, Chesnee Communications is the local team you can count on for Gig-capable Broadband, Business Communications and Network Solutions, Bundled Services (Voice/Internet/Digital TV), Business Phone Systems, Business Hosting Solutions, Monitored Security Services and Automation and Surveillance Services. For Immediate Release: 3/16/2020 compor,um®• Contact: Matthew Dosch Comporium Phone: 803-326-7287 [email protected] Comporium Providing 60 Days of Free Internet Service to Students Offering Internet to New Customers in Homes with K-12 and Higher Education Students ROCKHILL, S.C. - March 16, 2020 -With the continuing spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), South Carolina Governor, Henry McMaster and North Carolina Governor, Roy Cooper, made the difficult decision to close all public schools through the end of March. Knowing that our students and their parents will need greater access to broadband, Comporium is offering 60 days of free service to new customers in homes where a student lives.