The sudden, recent closing of BlueBridge Media has left a number of local Marion County residents and businesses without any internet service. One area served by BlueBridge Media that was hit hard by the closing is the South Pittsburg Mountain/Orme area, which now has few, if any options for high-speed internet service. SVEConnect has future plans to construct a fiber network to that area, and to all of the Marion County SVEC service area that is not served by a telephone cooperative.
"We are in contact with our state and local elected officials talking to them about the recent closing of BlueBridge Media and working diligently with them to come up with a long-term solution for the folks who are without a viable internet option," says Mike Partin, president/CEO of SVEC and SVEConnect. "While we are working on a long-term solution, we want to offer assistance to those who work from home and need reliable, high-speed internet."
In effort to help those who work from home and have no internet access, SVEConnect is opening the community room at 512 South Cedar Avenue, South Pittsburg, TN as a "Community Workspace" and allowing those internet-displaced employees access to office space and free internet service.
The Community Workspace will also be opened for students who lost internet service and need a place to do their homework. The room will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday.
"We want to be a solution for those who recently lost their internet service," says Partin. "We are a community-driven company. Our goal as a cooperative is to serve our community and offer help when we see our friends and neighbors in need."
If you have any questions or would like more information about the SVEC Community Workspace and free internet access, please call 423-837-5033.