Cornerstone Connectivity’s Smart Rural Community Designation

ARDMORE-The Greater Ardmore Chamber joined community members and Cornerstone Connectivity employees on September 1 to celebrate an exciting new chapter for Cornerstone Connectivity, formerly Ardmore Telephone Company. The celebration included a ribbon-cutting and reception recognizing the company’s new name, updates to its Ardmore office, and its designation as a Smart Rural Community.

Cornerstone Connectivity was built on the foundation of two telecommunications companies with deep roots in the communities they serve: West Kentucky & Tennessee Telecommunications Cooperative, which has served customers throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, and Illinois since 1951, and Ardmore Telephone Company, which first connected the Ardmore, Alabama, community in 1908.

Together, the two organizations represent more than a century of providing essential communications services to rural communities and serving customers often overlooked by larger providers. The celebration also recognized Cornerstone Connectivity’s Smart Rural Community (SRC) designation, a national program of NTCA—The Rural Broadband Association. The program recognizes rural broadband providers and the communities they serve for using high-speed internet to support economic development, education, health care, public safety, and overall quality of life.

“We’re proud to celebrate our progress, our new name, and our Smart Rural Community designation,” said Gentry Puckett, Marketing Coordinator for Cornerstone Connectivity. “To earn this designation, telecoms must meet several standards, including offering 100 Mbps broadband to at least half of their service area and maintaining strong subscription rates. This is a significant milestone, and we’re excited to share our refreshed look and new name with the people who matter most to us.”

Greater Ardmore Chamber Director Yolandia Eubanks expressed appreciation for Cornerstone Connectivity’s continued investment in the Ardmore community. “Cornerstone Connectivity’s investment in Ardmore is an investment in the future of our community,” Eubanks said. “Reliable, high-speed connectivity is essential to the way our residents live, learn, work, and do business. The Smart Rural Community designation is something our entire community can be proud of because it reflects the quality of service available here while also supporting economic growth and encouraging collaboration among our businesses, schools, local leaders, and public safety officials. We appreciate Cornerstone Connectivity’s continued commitment to Ardmore and look forward to seeing what this next chapter brings.”

The Greater Ardmore Chamber congratulates Cornerstone Connectivity on its new name, updated Ardmore office, and Smart Rural Community designation and looks forward to its continued growth and involvement in the Ardmore community.

Media Release/Photo courtesy of The Greater Ardmore Chamber/Yolandia Eubanks
Director, Greater Ardmore Chamber of Commerce