News
Technology and telecommunications are constantly changing, and we at HCTC work to meet these changes and the challenges they bring head-on. For the latest on business developments, personnel changes, technology upgrades, service promotions, product rollouts and other important information, click on the links below or check out our current news releases and newsletters.
January 17, 2020
HCTC is accepting applications for the 2020 HCTC scholarships available to graduating seniors who will attend a college or a technical school during the 2020-2021 school year. Above-average grades are…
Read More...January 10, 2020
Welcome to 2020! I sincerely hope you and those close to you had a superb holiday season and that this new year is off to a wonderful start. Something about…
Read More...January 2, 2020
NTCA members make a real difference in their communities, and in the lives of the people they serve. I was reminded of this a few weeks ago when the Foundation…
Read More...January 1, 2020
We would like to thank our dedicated employees for their years of excellent service to the cooperative and to our members. Pictured (Left to Right): Steve Shavers – 5 years…
Read More...December 31, 2019
Any HCTC member who wishes to change or add to listings in the 2020 telephone directory must act soon. The latest version will be out in May 2020. Please contact…
Read More...December 30, 2019
At first glance, HCTC and Nintendo don’t have a lot in common. Nintendo is a video game giant based in Japan, and we are a small broadband provider in rural…
Read More...December 23, 2019
In late summer, Ryan Lucich was still unpacking boxes at his new office at Schreiner University, where he had recently joined the staff to lead the school’s relatively new esports…
Read More...December 16, 2019
High-speed Connections Create Winners A dozen gaming computers provide an ethereal green glow along the stage at Lander University’s Abney Cultural Center in Greenwood, South Carolina, as esports competitors prepare…
Read More...December 9, 2019
Theaters put locals in the spotlight Nestled on the banks of the Guadalupe River lies a treasure trove of local artistic talent. Here, the Point Theatre at the Hill Country…
Read More...December 2, 2019
The latest gadgets make perfect gifts The holidays are here again, a wonderful time of year when friends and family gather to celebrate the joy of the season, and finding…
Read More...November 25, 2019
America’s war memorials tell the story of our country. They are places where we can reflect on those who gave their lives for freedom, not only for Americans but also…
Read More...November 20, 2019
Despite the challenges of serving rural America, health care professionals are delivering quality care, embracing technology and finding creative ways to encourage wellness among their rural patients. On Nov. 21,…
Read More...November 18, 2019
HCTC employees helped give a hero’s welcome to U.S. Army Cpl. Billy Joe Butler, whose remains were returned home nearly 70 years after he was taken as a prisoner of…
Read More...November 11, 2019
Whether a seasoned cook or a first-timer, if you’re in charge of cooking the bird this holiday season, there are tricks to roasting a turkey that you should know. If…
Read More...November 4, 2019
Millennials — the first lifelong gamers The U.S. launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System in late 1985 helped create an entertainment revolution. The oldest millennials at the time were about…
Read More...November 1, 2019
About 700 members and guests attended this year’s annual meeting on Oct. 7. The meeting began with an invocation by Richard McAllister of New Hope Fellowship Church. Vietnam Veterans Commander…
Read More...October 28, 2019
Several states have adopted loan and grant programs to help extend service to those areas of rural America still lacking a reliable broadband connection. Beyond its traditional programs, the federal…
Read More...September 25, 2019
The land where brisket rules Barbecue is a regional thing. In the South, it’s all about the butts. Head to the Midwest, and you’ll find brats on most every grill….
Read More...September 25, 2019
Growing Schreiner University offers opportunities for future From its Texas Ranger roots to its Presbyterian bent, Schreiner University has always been a uniquely Texas institution, and it continues to be…
Read More...September 25, 2019
Broadband internet takes education to another level Tomorrow’s workforce may appear very different from today’s due to an expected increase in the number of science, technology, engineering and math jobs….
Read More...September 25, 2019
Women find new directions and meaning As second acts go, Ann Buck’s has proven to be as rewarding as her first. Buck, a former music and women’s pastor in Tulsa,…
Read More...September 25, 2019
Find the right tools for you Technology can’t answer those age-old questions that come up this time of year — “Is it back-to-school time already?” and “What happened to summer?”…
Read More...September 25, 2019
Since 2012, HCTC has participated in the CoBank Sharing Success program, which provides matching grants to deserving nonprofits in its service market. Through this program, HCTC has supported libraries, first…
Read More...September 25, 2019
Two bylaw amendments have been proposed for the consideration of HCTC members during the 2019 election. Proposed amendments No. 1 and No. 2 have been brought forward by the HCTC…
Read More...September 25, 2019
Business gurus often urge executives to ensure the company they’ve been entrusted to lead is “mission-oriented” or “mission-focused,” and that the organization’s mission should drive progress and establish values. “A…
Read More...September 25, 2019
A dose of skepticism and care will foil phone and online scammers. Helpful pop-up messages frequently appear on computer screens, including weather notifications, news alerts or reminders to update software….
Read More...September 25, 2019
Access to speedy internet service increases the market value of homes, according to a first-of-its-kind study reported online by the Daily Yonder.com. The study evaluated 887 “remote rural” counties, which…
Read More...September 25, 2019
Our lives are impacted in countless ways by broadband internet access. With such connectivity, however, comes threats that must be guarded against, including cyber-attacks targeting network operators. Local, community-based providers…
Read More...July 11, 2019
LIFELINE IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM TO HELP LOW-INCOME AMERICANS PAY FOR PHONE OR BROADBAND SERVICE Consumers are allowed only one Lifeline program benefit per household. FAQ: How much will Lifeline…
Read More...July 11, 2019
The difference between success and failure for those who work in agriculture is, as it has ever been, small and frequently dependent on unpredictable factors: Too much rain. Not enough…
Read More...July 11, 2019
POWER ON Guarding against a surge. All big-ticket pieces of electronic equipment are at the mercy of power spikes: your desktop computer, your big-screen TV, your audio system and more….
Read More...July 11, 2019
HCTC was awarded the 2019 “Top Internet Speeds in Texas” within the small provider category by BroadbandNow. The purpose of the BroadbandNow provider awards program is to grant awards to…
Read More...July 11, 2019
The internet has changed the way we define community. Sure, we’ll always have the community where we live. Many of us have a community of faith through our church or…
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June 20, 2019
Anthony Robbins arrived at HCTC nearly four years ago with a sales background and a penchant for fixing most anything. Now, he’s combining those two things as a retail sales…
Read More...June 5, 2019
The 2019 nominations for HCTC directors will open July 30, with nominations posted by Aug. 23. Petitions for nominations are due on or before Sept. 6. Qualifications and nominations for…
Read More...May 17, 2019
HCTC recognizes that for many rural communities, the local volunteer fire departments provide the first line of defense. Volunteer firefighters are local people willing to drop their own work to…
Read More...May 1, 2019
Greetings, cooperative family! It has been one of the great pleasures of my career to serve as your chief operations officer. As I look ahead to my new role as…
Read More...March 21, 2019
HCTC is aware that some members may have recently received notification of a reward offer appearing to come from HCTC. Please note that this advertisement is not from HCTC. Such…
Read More...March 20, 2019
By the time you receive this magazine, our winter should be behind us, and signs of spring will abound. Everyone with your cooperative wishes that all is well with you…
Read More...March 19, 2019
The board of directors has appointed R. Craig Cook to fill the position of CEO. Current CEO Alan Link announced his resignation in October 2018. Cook, HCTC’s chief operations officer,…
Read More...February 20, 2019
Keep your data safe Once, all you had to worry about in terms of digital security was making sure your antivirus software was up to date. Now, with the host…
Read More...February 11, 2019
One thing that’s great about our business is how our network can have a positive impact on so many people. Broadband benefits everyone from children to seniors even if they…
Read More...November 20, 2018
It has occurred to me that the calendar places our Thanksgiving holiday at just the right point to allow us to pause a bit to reflect and focus upon the…
Read More...October 4, 2018
For churches in rural communities, spreading the word can be a challenge. Often, pastors rely on personal relationships and word of mouth to reach new parishioners and grow their congregations….
Read More...September 27, 2018
HCTC receives national recognition as Certified Gig-Capable Provider Because of HCTC’s commitment to building a world-class broadband network, residents and businesses of Comfort, Texas have access to gigabit internet speeds…
Read More...September 27, 2018
Imagine the headlines if this happened today — a group of rural Texas residents raise money to build their own internet network because corporate internet providers determined their area didn’t…
Read More...July 11, 2018
Stop and count with me for a moment. How many internet-connected devices do you have in your home? For many of us, smartphones and computers are the first internet-connected devices…
Read More...May 24, 2018
Keeping up with the latest in technology can be frustrating. Luckily, HCTC has Systems Administrator Kris LeMeilleur to help figure all that out. “Primarily, I help our employees with their…
Read More...May 24, 2018
Have you ever thought about what our community would be like without small businesses? For starters, half of us would be out of work because small businesses employ 48 percent…
Read More...April 12, 2018
It’s very rare that telecommunications policy grabs headlines, dominates social media feeds, and leads the news broadcasts. But that’s exactly what we saw after the FCC’s decision on net neutrality….
Read More...March 3, 2018
HCTC’s Technology Solutions does it all Computer, network and Wi-Fi issues can plague even the most tech savvy among us, but HCTC’s Technology Solutions can help. And, you don’t have to…
Read More...February 28, 2018
Enhancing lives with fiber optic technology High-speed internet has the power to shape lives because fast, reliable broadband can provide entertainment, generate jobs, educate students and far more. HCTC continues…
Read More...October 16, 2017
Linda Reagor, right, is the new director for District 9, the Frio Canyon Exchange. She is taking the place of T. H. “Rocky” Rocchio, left, who retired after 12 years…
Read More...October 2, 2017
Hill Country Telephone Cooperative (HCTC) recently released the fiber network in the Hunt exchange for service to customers. By upgrading the old copper network to new, state-of-the-art fiber technology, customers…
Read More...September 28, 2017
The HCTC Annual Meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 2, 2017. Hill Country Telephone Cooperative members are invited to attend. The doors open at 6:30 pm with dinner being served…
Read More...September 27, 2017
HCTC recently completed a fiber-to-the-business (FTTB) project in Medina. Customers along the main business corridors in Medina are now able to receive high-speed broadband services via newly installed fiber optic…
Read More...September 25, 2017
We all know that the Texas heat can sometimes become too much to handle, leaving us unmotivated to get any work done. Unless of course, the work involves sitting in…
Read More...September 14, 2017
Hill Country Telephone Cooperative (HCTC) announces that the fiber network is ready to serve customers in most areas within the city limits of Comfort, Texas. Several years ago, HCTC started…
Read More...September 14, 2017
Hill Country Telephone Cooperative (HCTC) recently held an open house at the new Comfort Office at 712 Front Street in Comfort, Texas. The event drew a crowd of 300 people…
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