CEO’s Message – March 2026

Winter’s Wrath & The Promise of Spring

In our area, we know that winter can bring bad storms. We are all raised to keep an eye on the forecast and prepare as much as possible. But this year, in late January, the forecast turned especially ominous, and we were faced with a storm that was worse than bad. It was brutal.

When the Winter Storm Fern took hold, freezing rain fell and ice formed on every surface. Trees cracked as they gave way to the unbearable load. Utility lines sagged, and poles snapped. Temperatures plummeted, and roads were impassable.

Johnny
McClanahan
President/CEO

As soon as conditions allowed, our crews were out there in the middle of it. In bone-chilling, single-digit cold, our folks bundled up to deal with the downed trees that were blocking the roads. We worked in conjunction with our electric partners. As they restored power, we were right behind them restoring our fiber service. I appreciate all the hard work and efforts of our dedicated employees in restoring service to our customers due to this severe ice storm.

We are so proud of the tireless efforts of our team as they worked for days and weeks to restore connection to our community. We care about our friends and neighbors and are grateful for their understanding and words of encouragement as we tackled this enormous recovery.

No matter how brutal winter may be, we are given the promise of spring. We know that cold, dark nights will be replaced with warmer, brighter days. The trees that were coated with ice will come to life with new growth. Winter Storm Fern will eventually become a memory that we recall and compare to the ’94 ice storm or the 2008 tornado.

And when that next storm comes, our NCTC team will be here, doing whatever it takes to restore your connection, just like we have for the past 75 years.