MANKATO, Minn. – Dec. 11, 2009 – HickoryTech Corporation (Nasdaq: HTCO) today announced it will deploy its Digital TV and higher-speed Internet services in Amboy, Minn. HickoryTech’s Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service is delivered over the Company’s advanced broadband network and will offer Amboy residents a superior quality, feature rich entertainment service. As part of the broadband infrastructure upgrade, HickoryTech significantly increased DSL speeds in Amboy now offering DSL Pro at 9 Mbps and DSL Prime at a 6 Mbps download speeds.
"HickoryTech’s investment in Amboy to build an IPTV network is evidence of our commitment to provide local residents with high-quality, broadband services,” said Damon Dutz, president of HickoryTech's Consumer and Network Solutions Division. “We are excited to expand our Digital TV services to another community and provide Amboy residents with competitive features such as DVR, an extensive HD channel selection and caller ID displayed on the television screen.”
“We know our residents want more channels, features and faster DSL,” commented Marv Kammerlander, mayor of Amboy. “I think it’s going to be very helpful for residents.”
HickoryTech will demonstrate its Digital TV service on Thursday, Dec. 17 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Amboy Fire Hall. The event will include free food and the opportunity for holiday photos with Santa. Photos are free with a toy or cash donation for Toys for Tots.
HickoryTech’s Digital TV service includes:
- Customized TV packages, allowing customers to choose specific channels to create their own package or subscribe to a premium package with well over 200 digital channels, including commercial-free music
- Digital Video Recorder (DVR) service
- More than 45 high-definition channels
- State-of-the-art set-top boxes – a single set-top box will support multiple video streams or televisions
- Caller ID displayed directly on the television screen
- Universal remote controls with onscreen program guide for all TVs
- Easy-to-use parental controls to block programs by specific channel or rating
Residents may subscribe to HickoryTech’s Digital TV as a stand-alone service or as part of a money-saving Select bundle including high-speed DSL, local telephone, and long distance – all from one local company on a single bill. The signal offers a crystal-clear image and premium tier channel options including: sports and Hispanic tiers, pay-per-view and commercial-free music programming. The IPTV platform will support additional content and interactive media applications in the future.
Amboy has approximately 250 households and is located 25 miles south of Mankato, Minn., the company headquarters location. HickoryTech provides Digital TV service to 14 Minnesota communities including: Amboy, Eagle Lake, Ellendale, Faribault, Janesville, Lake Crystal, Mapleton, Mankato, New Richland, Nicollet, North Mankato, St. Peter, St. Clair, and Waseca.
About HickoryTech
HickoryTech Corporation (dba HickoryTech and Enventis) is a leading integrated communications provider in the markets it serves. With headquarters in Mankato, Minn., the corporation has approximately 450 employees and a regional fiber network with facilities-based operations in Minnesota and Iowa. Enventis serves businesses of all sizes across a five-state region with IP-based voice, data and network solutions. HickoryTech provides bundled residential and business services including high-speed Internet, Digital TV and voice services in its legacy telecom markets. The Company trades on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, symbol: HTCO, and is a member of the Russell 2000 index. For more information, visit
www.hickorytech.com.