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Local TMC's

What is a TMC?

After the end of World World II, many areas of the United States did not have telephone service.  North Carolina was no exception.  These areas were rural and very sparsely populated.  Investor owned companies were unwilling to make the investments needed to provide them with telephone service.  Fortunately, public-spirited citizens who lived in these areas recognized that telephone service is essential.   They gathered support from other citizens and through both federal and state enabling legislation; they formed telephone companies, which are member owned.  These corporations are known as Telephone Membership Corporations and are often referred to as TMCs or coops.

All of the State's nine TMCs are members of CarolinaLink.  They provide telephone service to more than 175,000 citizens in North Carolina.  These member/customers of the TMCs live and work in 26 of the State’s 100 counties and have an economic impact in these areas of more than $65,000,000 annually.

While the areas served by the TMCs remain rural with less than 8 customers per route mile, 100% percent of customers are served with digital switching technology.  In addition, 100% have access to dial up; toll free Internet access and more than 85% have high-speed Internet access with a minimum speed of 128k for residences and 256k for businesses.  Within three years, it is projected that more than 95% will have access to even more advanced services through Digital Subscriber Loops (DSL).  The remaining areas are limited only by existing technology.

In 2000, then President Clinton visited North Carolina to discuss the “digital divide.”  The concept refers to the perception that rural areas do not enjoy the same access to modern information technology as urban areas.  Fortunately, a “digital divide” does not disadvantage the customers served by the nine member TMCs of CarolinaLink.  They are well situated to enjoy the benefits of the information age to the same extent as their urban counterparts.

Local TMC's

All Telephone Membership Corporations in North Carolina are members of CarolinaLink.  In the aggregate, these companies serve more than 175,000 North Carolinians who live in some of the State’s most rural areas with an average of less than 8 customers per route mile.  Although the service territories are rural, the services provided include local and long distance service, dial-up and high-speed internet access, wireless service and cable television.  These member companies are truly bridging the digital divide and realizing the promise of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 by providing services to rural areas that are comparable in quality and price to those available in rural areas.  Collectively, companies employ more than 700 North Carolinians and have a financial impact on their communities of more than $65,000,000 annually.  To learn more about them, return to the CarolinaLink Home Page and simply double click the company name or simply click the logo below.


Headquartered in Shallotte, NC, Atlantic TMC began serving Brunswick County in 1957 with 530 customers and 2 employees.  Today, the company employs close to 200 people and provides state-of-the-art telecommunications services to over 35,000 customers and cable television service to more than 17,000 customers.  Other services include long distance, advance calling features, paging, dial-up and high-speed Internet and wireless access.
 

Piedmont TMC provides telephone and internet services to the communities of Reeds, Tyro and Churchland.  Cable television service is provided to these same communities through Piedmont Communications Services, Inc.  All of the company’s telephone customers are served with digital switching technology, 100% have access to dial-up internet services and 90% are equipped with high speed internet access.


Beginning with 97 telephones in Farmer, N.C. in 1957, Randolph TMC currently serves more than 11,000 customers in seven communities.  The company, along with its subsidiaries, provides a full array of state of the art services including internet access, cable television and long distance.  Randolph prides itself on its commitment to its local communities and maintains full service local offices in Asheboro, Liberty and Farmer, N.C.
 


Founded in 1951 by concerned citizens of Alleghany, Ashe  and Watauga Counties, Skyline TMC has grown into a state of the art company providing a full complement of services to more than 36,000 customers.  Dial-up internet access was established in 1995 and 100% of customers have access to high speed internet and 70% are equipped with digital subscriber loops (DSL).   All telephone service is provided with digital switching technology.
 


In 1959, two rural telephone companies combined to form Star Telephone Membership Corporation.   The company, along with its subsidiaries, provides service to approximately 20,000 customers in a service area with only 5.1 customers per route mile in portions of Sampson, Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland and Duplin Counties.   The company provides a full array of modern services including local, long distance, internet, wireless and cable television.
 


Founded in 1951, Surry TMC serves a customer base of more than 16,000 customers in the communities of Beulah, Level Cross, Red Brush, Shoals, Westfield and Zephyr.  The company and its affiliates provide local, long distance, wireless, paging and internet services.  All customers are served with digital switching technology and 100% of those customers have access to high speed internet access.  
 


Since May 1955, Tri-County TMC has served some of the most rural areas of Beaufort, Hyde and Washington Counties. The company and its subsidiary, provide a full complement of services including local, long distance, cable television, paging and Internet access. The telephone customer base of 3,800 is served with digital switching technology and 100% have local Internet access. The company is committed to serving its local communities and established a foundation to support that purpose.
 


Dedicated to providing its Wilkes County customers with the latest in telecommunications services, Wilkes TMC offers a full line of state-of-the-art services.  The Company’s approximate 12,000 customers are all served with digital switching technology and 100% have access to toll free dial-up internet service and approximately 70% of the company’s access lines are equipped digital subscriber loops (DSL).
 


Realizing that neighboring telephone companies would not extend service into their communities, a group of public spirited citizens met on Friday evening, October 28, 1949 and launched what would become Yadkin Valley TMC.   Today, the company provides a fully array of state of the art services to more than 32,000 customers.  Those customers are served with digital switching technology and 100% have access to high speed internet.