Protecting Rural Telecommunications in Texas!
Texas Statewide Telephone Cooperative, Inc. (TSTCI) is a statewide organization representing telephone cooperatives and other rural independent telephone exchange companies in Texas.  TSTCI is a telephone industry organization dedicated entirely to representing and serving the interests of the Texas rural independent telecommunications providers and customers. TSTCI was founded in 1952 by the telephone cooperatives to enable them to accomplish together what they could not accomplish individually.  The membership was expanded in 1985 to include privately owned rural telephone companies serving fewer than 50,000 access lines.  Our non-profit trade association represents 16 commercial companies and 19 cooperatives in Texas. These small companies and cooperatives serve less than 3% of Texas consumers but their service areas include almost 50% of Texas’ geographic area. The overall density of most of the rural companies’ service areas range from a low of .8 customers per mile to 6 customers per mile. These actions recognize two things.  First, the small and rural telephone companies and cooperatives have many of the same interests and needs; and second, together we can accomplish more than is possible individually.  By any standard, TSTCI’s efforts have been extremely successful and very beneficial to its member companies.  TSTCI has contributed significantly to many legislative and regulatory successes over the past several years, benefiting its members for years to come. The seven-member TSTCI Board of Directors is comprised of executive management individuals of the member companies.  The association provides its membership with legal, industry, regulatory and legislative representation; employee education and technical training; publications; and regular membership meetings. TSTCI carries out many activities on behalf of its members, including representation on issues before the FCC, active participation in Texas PUC matters, as well as legislative involvement at both state and federal levels.  By sharing the expense of these activities, members are able to receive these benefits much more cost-effectively than they would be able to individually. The future of rural Texas is tied directly to the quality of its telecommunications capability.  In an era of exploding technology, deregulation and marketplace competition, TSTCI's goal is to ensure that rural Texans receive telecommunications services that are equal in quality to those available to urban residents -- and at reasonable rates.  TSTCI is ensuring access to advanced services and making a commitment to the communities they serve.