Letter from Ringgold Telephone Company

Words cannot express our humble appreciation at the incredible support we received from you in the weeks following the storm. Almost immediately, you responed by sending a digger/derrick truck, two bucket trucks, utility truck, pick-up truck, a seven man line crew, splicers and installers to help us rebuild our damaged infrastructure. Tim Lint, Chad Mathis, Van Powell, Alvin Reece, Larry Sisson, Andy Duvall, Allen Sisson, Carl Hill, Justin Owenby and Joe Frady, worked tirelessely on the restoration. We were truly overwhelmed at their selfless dedication of time and energy.
Your quick response and expertise allowed for crews to move more quickly. Without the help from Ellijay Telephone, we would not be where we are today. In our greatest time of need, your suppport was invaluable. On behalf of the entire staff at RTC, please accept our thanks to the employees and Ellijay Telephone Company.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2011
Contact: Joni Smithwick
Program Producer/Host
(706)697-5753
jsmithwick@etcmail.com

April Tornado Outbreak Documentary to Air July 14th

On April 27th, 2011 the fifth deadliest tornado day in US history plowed through the southeastern United States leaving hundreds dead, thousands homeless, and millions changed forever. If you have turned on any television in the past month you have more than likely seen coverage of these storms and the damage they left behind from state to state, but the story you haven't heard or seen is the one of what really happened in North GA.

"The events that happened on April 27th broke my heart and I wanted to pay respect to those individuals who lost homes and family members on that dreadful day," said producer Joni Smithwick. The documentary entitled, "When Hope Becomes Home", details the events that happened on April 27th in Pickens County, Walker County, Catoosa County, and Dade County. This touching documentary will take you through the days before, during, and after the tornado outbreak as well as the local heroes that helped those who survived regain some sense of a normal life again.

Some of those heroes are workers from Ellijay Telephone Company and Tri State Electric in Blue Ridge. In "When Hope Becomes Home" they will recall the experiences they had as well as relay miraculous stories of survival that were shared with them by the citizens of these leveled towns. One story involves a lady and her two children in Ringgold, GA who were denied entry in to a gas station and had to ride out the F4 tornado in a car.

A few familiar faces you will see in the documentary are Chief Bob Howard, the Pickens County EMA Director; Frankie Rigdon, Ellijay Telephone Company's Assistant Vice President of Operations; and Chris Holcomb, a meteorologist with 11 Alive in Atlanta. You will also see hundreds of pictures from the damaged areas, actual video of the tornado that hit Ringgold, and an original song composed by Jennifer Danner, the producer of the popular ETC Channel 3 documentary "Miner's Memories: From Rock to Metal."

"The message of the documentary is to show that you can find hope even in the darkest of places. These people went through so much and lost everything and yet took time out of digging through the ruins that used to be their home to offer food and water to the thousands of volunteers that came to restore their towns," said Producer Joni Smithwick when asked how she came up with the title for the documentary.

You can watch "When Hope Becomes Home" on ETC Channel 3 on July 14th at 9pm with an encore on July 27th, the three month anniversary of the tornado outbreak.

If ETC is not your cable provider you can log on to www.northganow.com and click on the "Watch ETC3 Live" link in the lower right hand corner at 9pm on July 14th.

To find out more information about "When Hope Becomes Home" you can email producer Joni Smithwick at jsmithwick@etcmail.com.

Posted March 14, 2011
Contact: Director of Marketing, Barry Pritchett
Company: ETC
Telephone: 706-697-5509
Fax: 706-697-5655
Email: barryp@ellijay.com
Web: NorthGaNow.com

Congratulations Hannah Towns and Roger Newton

They received a Silver and Bronze Telly Award for "Mountain Stories - Haunted Edition"

POSTED MARCH 8, 2011:
Contact: Director of Marketing, Barry Pritchett
Company: ETC
Telephone: 706-697-5509
Fax: 706-697-5655
Email: barryp@ellijay.com
Web: NorthGaNow.com

ETC to offer 50Mbps Internet - Current customers get upgrades too.

Ellijay, Georgia, Date - ETC is upgrading Internet service speeds.

A new offering of 50Mbps will be available. Internet speeds for existing customers will double or triple in most areas at no additional cost.

The upgrade utilizes next-generation DOCSIS 3.0 technology. Upgrade to ETC's infrastructure began in December and will continue throughout the first quarter of 2011. With this upgrade, ETC will offer the fastest residential service available in the North Georgia area. The new 50Mbps downstream service will be available with upload speeds up to 5Mbps.

ETC is also excited to be upgrading all high-speed internet customers where available. Please note the chart at the right for new speeds.

Jason Smith, VP of Operations stated, "The new Broadband speeds will utilize our fiber optic and coaxial network that is already in place across our footprint. With this next generation of service, our customers' online experience will be dramatically enhanced. The way people use their Internet is changing and ETC is giving our customers more speed to download more music and videos than ever before. However, this is just the beginning, DOCSIS 3.0, combined with our fiber optic and coaxial network, will give us the capability of meeting the needs of our customers for many years to come by offering even faster speeds in the future."

Business customers will benefit from wideband internet with its increased capacity. Businesses may opt for the 50Mbps/ 5Mbps tier.

This new tier is available with static IP addresses, multiple email addresses and 24/7 customer support. As with residential customers, existing businesses will automatically receive increased speeds where available.

ETC (Ellijay Telephone Company) is a locally owned family company that has been serving the North Georgia/Copper Basin area since 1903.

ETC is the leading provider of entertainment, information and communications products and services in the North Georgia/Copper Basin area.

For Immediate Release:
Week of March 11, 2011

"Miners' Memories: From Rock to Metal" is a documentary about copper mining in the Basin that is currently playing on ETC3. The last episode of the series features a list of as many names of miners as could be accumulated from various historical records.

ETC3 seeks to represent each miner and their family accurately. If you have a name of a relative that worked in the mines that was not on the list, or if you would like to verify that they were on the list, please contact Jennifer Danner at jjuliadanner@yahoo.com or 706-455-0844, or call ETC3 at 706-276-9877.

Please send your information, changes or additions by Monday, March 14, as the final edits are being added to the series.

Please note:
The DVD series that will be for available for purchase and will also include a list of employees from jobs throughout the entire company's history, both in and above the mines.

Jennifer Danner ETC3 Productions
Cell: 706-455-0844
Office: 706-276-9877

For Immediate Release:
posted on September 15, 2010
MINERS' MEMORIES-DOCUMENTARY ABOUT COPPER MINING IN THE BASIN BEGINS SOON!

"Miners' Memories-From Rock to Metal," a documentary about the history of copper mining in the Copper Basin region will begin airing on Saturday, September 18th at 5 pm on ETC3 (Ellijay Telephone Company's local cable network.)

Outside viewers can also stream it live at www.northganow.com. This documentary series contains several episodes explaining the local mining history from pre-mining days through the entire mining process. It will include interviews from former miners and employees, exclusive mining footage from the area, original music and the one-of-a-kind story of copper mining in the Basin.

Produced by Billy Wayne Chastain and directed by local native and ETC employee, Jennifer Danner, this documentary will serve as a tribute to the local area and its rich history. New episodes will air every two weeks beginning on September 18, 2010.

Replays for each episode are as follows: Sundays at 1:30pm and every weekend between new episodes.

For more information contact
ETC3 at 706-276-2271
Billy Wayne Chastain at 706-492-4969
Jennifer Danner at 706-455-0844.

Jennifer Danner ETC Production Assistant jjuliadanner@yahoo.com 706-632-2144

posted August 27, 2009

News Team Bios

Hannah Towns
News Director/Anchor
Hannah is a 2006 honor graduate of Reinhardt College earning her degree is Visual Communications with an emphasis in television production. A Telly Award winner, Hannah has performed various job functions over the years at ETC3 including production editing and videography. She was promoted to News Director in 2008 and enjoys meeting people in the local communities that ETC serves.

Hannah is a pillar in the community, particularly in her church (First Baptist Ellijay) where she teaches Sunday school and drama for youth. She is the Secretary of the Ellijay Lion’s Club and was named a Tom Bingham Fellow, the highest honor received in the Georgia Lion’s Lighthouse. She also directs the annual Apple Queen Pageant. Hannah enjoys photography, cake decorating, renovating, and travel.

Fun Fact: Hannah and her husband Jeremy own East Towne Cinemas in East Ellijay and spend a great deal of their free time at the theater. She is classically trained in vocal performance.

Bree Tankersley
Reporter/Anchor
Bree anchors for the live 7:30 newscast every Tuesday evening on ETC 3. She graduated Cum Laude from Reinhardt College in 2001 with a degree in Communications, but admits her true passion for the news developed when she moved to the Scenic City of Chattanooga, TN. It was there that she was hired by WRCB-TV channel 3, an NBC affiliate, and was able to obtain an array of knowledge about news, commercials and television production.

In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, hiking, and going for long walks with her loyal Boston Terrier, Jingle Bell.

Fun Fact: She was in a Kenny Rogers movie, Six Pack, as a child and was the 1995 Gilmer Apple Queen.

Joni Smithwick
Reporter
Joni comes to ETC 3 as a dedicated reporter ready to bring you stories that matter. After graduating high school in Douglasville, GA, Joni attended Young Harris College where she received an Associates Degree in Fine Arts. She then moved to South Georgia to obtain her bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State University. Joni loves to sing, dance, and act and also enjoys baking. She feels entirely blessed and thanks God for the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful company as ETC. Joni moved to the area in February 2009 with her husband, Brandon Smithwick.

Matt Wilson
Reporter
Matt joined ETC3 as a news reporter in June and quickly established himself as a valuable member of the North Georgia Now team. After graduating from Chamblee High School in Chamblee, GA., Matt attended Vanderbilt University before transferring to Reinhardt College where he is currently finishing up his Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communications. Matt brings both academic and professional leadership experience and to the news team serving as Co-Executive Producer of Reinhardt College Television in 2008 and 2009.

Roger Newton
Reporter
Roger is a 2007 graduate of Gilmer High School. He is currently studying Mass Communications and English at Dalton State University. Roger serves as a technical director for the North Georgia Now news program and serves a dual role as a production specialist. Roger is a member of the Good Samaritan Catholic Church. Having visited 15 foreign countries, he enjoys traveling and feels that his experiences abroad have contributed to his overall knowledge in working with people.

Ashley Messer
Reporter
Ashley is a 2005 graduate of Gilmer High School. She has been working at ETC3 since December of 2007 and started reporting for North Georgia Now News in February of 2008. She has lived in Gilmer County most of her life. Ashley serves as a technical director for other live programming at ETC3 including North Georgia Now Today and Trading Time. Her interests include German automobiles, reading, acting, camping, hiking, and most outdoor activities.

Jennifer Danner
Reporter
Jennifer is a 2009 graduate of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. A native resident of Ducktown, TN., Jennifer joins the North Georgia Now news staff as a part-time reporter and brings an array of production skills to the team. In addition to her technical knowledge, she is also an accomplished singer/songwriter, painter, and photographer and currently works closely with the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association. She also enjoys a passion for history while serving on the Board of Directors for the Ducktown-Basin Museum.

Dave Garner
Sports Director/News Producer
Dave graduated from Kennesaw State University in 1996 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. Following a year of post-graduate education at Mercer University, Dave was accepted into the I.P. Reed School of Journalism at West Virginia University where he is currently pursuing a Master’s degree.

Dave has served as the Sports Director for ETC 3 since 2002 and has maintained a professional relationship with Georgia Public Broadcasting as a play-by-play announcer for the GHSA State football and basketball championships. He brings over 15 years of broadcast knowledge and experience to the North Georgia Now news team.

Fun Fact: Dave’s grandfather, the late Blaine Walsh, was a broadcaster with the Milwaukee Braves and won Broadcaster of the Year honors in 1965. He also hosted a weekly program with legendary Green Bay Packer coach Vince Lombardi.

Chad Luther
Assistant Sports Producer
Chad came to ETC3 in August 2004 as a part-time production assistant. He quickly became an important part of the ETC3 sports team where he currently anchors and produces various sports related programming. Chad also serves as a technical director for the North Georgia Now news program and shares production responsibilities for other ETC 3 content. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Technology from Dalton State College.

Kevin Hensley
Sports Reporter
Kevin came to ETC3 in May 2008 and immediately took a role on the sports team. In addition to his duties on the sports team, Kevin also directs North Georgia Now Today and Trading Time three days a week, as well as some original programming on ETC3, such as Focus on Excellence and Those Who Served. Kevin is currently attending Kennesaw State University in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in Communications.

posted August 3, 2009

ETC 3 Launches Revamped Newscast Ellijay, Ga. -

Those who have recently viewed the North Georgia Now news program on ETC 3 may have noticed some new faces. In May, the local cable television channel added two reporters to a news program that features a new look and a new time slot. Once bundled in between North Georgia Now Today and Trading Time, the revamped version of North Georgia Now news recently settled into a live 7:30 pm showing complimented by encore viewings at 11:30 pm, 7:30am, and 11:30am. "The new time slot really gives us a chance to be timelier with our stories," says News Director Hannah Towns. She added, "By being able to push our show into the evenings, we will be able to incorporate more breaking news and stories that truly matter to our viewers."

Longtime Sports Director Dave Garner transitioned into the role of Program Coordinator in early May and has responded to the challenges associated with creating a new concept. "Our goal is to give our cable customers a product that they cannot get anywhere else," explained Garner who has served as the Sports Director at ETC 3 since 2002. "We want to bring more value not only to ETC 3, but also to ETC as a company. By being able to put together a news program that is both informative and entertaining, we hope that our customers will ultimately feel impacted by what we're doing each and every night."

North Georgia Now remains 30 minutes in length but features more hard-hitting news. Newly hired reporter Joni Smithwick tackled a story involving a lawsuit filed in response to The Georgia Nuclear Energy Financing Act. Hannah Towns was the first to report on a June thunderstorm that caused severe wind damage in Gilmer County. Despite breaking coverage of gas leaks and overturned trucks, the North Georgia Now news team remains dedicated to covering community news.

"Our customers appreciate the fact that we remain local and that we cover positive stories in the communities we serve," says Bree Tankersley, veteran host and reporter at ETC 3. Tankersley spent time at NBC affiliate WRCB-TV channel 3 in Chattanooga prior to her current stint at ETC. She admits that local cable news provides a much more positive tone than the gloom and doom of network news. "We give our viewers the chance to see their children and grandchildren on TV in a positive light, something you don't always see from the Atlanta or Chattanooga stations."

In addition to the final product each night, the North Georgia Now news team created other interactive tools to keep viewers engaged to the North Georgia Now brand. Viewers can receive daily news updates from the North Georgia Now news desk via Twitter. Weekly blogs also keep viewers informed of the latest personal developments in the lives of various ETC 3 staff members. Social media gadgets are just one way that the North Georgia Now news program hopes to adopt an identity as an everyday source for news among the ETC customer base.

"Today people are getting their news from all different kinds of sources," Garner explains. "It goes way beyond the nightly TV program anymore. We have a responsibility to keep up with the industry while satisfying the needs and expectations of our viewers on a daily basis." ETC hopes that a format change and a new look will be one step in that direction.

You can watch North Georgia Now weeknights on ETC 3 at 7:30 and 11:30 and also weekday mornings at 7:30 and 11:30 on the ETC cable system. If you see news happening in your neighborhood, call the North Georgia Now news team at 706-515-NEWS (6397) or call toll free at 1-866-515-3823. You can also e-mail the news staff at ngn [at] ellijay [dot] com. Also visit www.northganow.com for additional information including program schedules and weekly blogs.

posted May 22, 2009

Quentin Holloway to retire after 50 years of service to ETC

You should have received your new phone book in the mail recently. You might have noticed that the back cover is a tribute to Quentin D. Holloway for 50 years of continuous service to ETC. That's right, 50 years. Quentin began working at Ellijay Telephone Company in 1959 right out of high school and had never talked on the phone.

He attended Southern Tech and was in a program that allowed him to work for a quarter at the company and then spend the next quarter in school. He graduated in 1963. He was hired to work on the construction/installation crew. Quentin stated, "The outside crew was basically just me and Willie Hightower - I was Willie's helper. Mr. Harrison would come out and help us if we were short on workers. I made $1 per hour, which was minimum wage then."

Employees that have worked with Quentin over the years all agree that he would not ask you to do anything that he wouldn't do. Quentin is a lifelong resident of Gilmer County and has been married to JoAnne Moody for 44 years.

They have three children and 1 grandchild. He is a member of the Ellijay Church of Christ.

A reception in his honor will be held on Sunday, May 31st at the Appalachian Community Bank Conference Center. You may drop in from 2:00 p.m. till 5:00 p.m. The formal program will begin at 2:30. The community is invited.

posted May 1, 2009

Fastest Broadband Available

ETC has the fastest internet available. We have just increased our upload speeds on all the standard packages and also created new packages with the fastest download speeds available in the area. For Businesses with special requirements for transferring large amounts of data or linking multiple locations together, ETC offers a variety of options including Ethernet internet where available.

posted April 30, 2009

ETC Introduces Customer Care Group

ETC is excited to introduce the Customer Care Group. This group was created to follow up with customers who have recently had ETC services installed, moved or changed. A quality assurance representative will be in contact to answer any questions you may have regarding the services or equipment you have with ETC. The goal of each Customer Care Representative is to provide you with the level of customer service you deserve!

posted April 30, 2009

Appalachian Children's Center Telethon Set for May 7 on ETC 3 Ellijay, Ga.

April is child abuse prevention month and the Appalachian Children's Center is asking for your help in spreading the word. For the second consecutive year, ETC 3 will host a live telethon at their studio in Ellijay on Thursday, May 7 to help raise funds for the ACC which serves Gilmer, Pickens and Fannin Counties.

The live broadcast will begin at 6pm and continue until 9pm. According to the ACC, the Appalachian Judicial Circuit (comprised of Gilmer, Pickens and Fannin counties) traditionally has the highest per capita rate of child abuse cases in the state of Georgia.

The hope of this year's telethon is to not only raise needed funds, but also to raise awareness and advocacy against the growing epidemic of child abuse and neglect in the local area. The ACC is a non-profit organization that serves as a multidisciplinary team bringing together local law enforcement, local courts and other professional agencies in coordinating intervention, investigation, prosecution and free treatment services for victims of child abuse and their non-offending family members. -more- It is believed by many child advocacy groups that the current economic climate may be contributing to higher abuse rates.

"When family members lose their jobs and cannot afford to pay the bills, the stress level rises, therefore creating unfavorable behavior in many American households," says Dave Garner, ACC board member. "This behavior often contributes to higher rates of child abuse."

According to statistics from Prevent Child Abuse America, when the rate of child abuse increases, so do other societal issues such as drug abuse, teen pregnancy, alcoholism, sexually transmitted diseases, and general health problems. It is the hope of the ACC staff that this year's event will be able to meet current economic challenges and generate needed assistance in continuing the fight against abuse.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the ACC, you can visit their website at www.appalachianchildrenscenter.org or call (706)273-2225.

posted March 30. 2009

Dig Safely Month 2009 Proclaimed Safe Digging recognized by Governor
Atlanta, GA March , 2009
Photo: Statewide stakeholders gather at the capital in Atlanta for the Proclamation of Dig Safely Month 2009

April 1 may be April Fool's day, but it is no reason to make foolish assumptions about the location of underground utilities. April 1, 2009 marks the first day of Georgia's Dig Safely Month as declared by Governor Sonny Perdue. The Utilities Protection Center, Inc (UPC), along with Governor Perdue encourages you to "Call Before You Dig." "Calling Before you dig is an important step in safe digging. It not only saves lives, but money and time. If you have dug in the past without calling, don't make that mistake again. Call 811 on every project, every time. The call is free and having the underground utilities marked is free,"

Shares UPC's Executive Director Claudette Campbell. Danny McGriff, Director, Facilities Protection Unit, with the Georgia Public Service Commission reminds, "homeowners, landscapers, fence installers, farmers, plumbers, professional excavators - anyone who will be digging- is required to dial 811 before beginning the project. Utility services like phone, gas, power, water and cable that your family depends on are buried underground. Every digging project requires a call to 811 - even small projects like planting trees or shrubs. Striking a single line can result in harm to yourself or someone else, costly fines and repair fees or inconvenient outages. One utility line is unintentionally struck every minute in the US. 811 is easy to remember and the call and the service are free. It also keeps you in compliance with the Georgia 'Dig Law'."

"The Public Service Commission reminds all Georgians that Call Before you Dig is the law. Failure to obey the law can have serious consequences. I am pleased that the Governor has joined us in proclaiming May as Dig Safely Month to remind everyone of the importance of Call Before You Dig," states Georgia Public Service Commission Chairman Doug Everett. A free call to 811 starts the process of getting underground utility lines marked. The UPC notifies member utility companies where and when you plan to dig. On average, one call to the UPC will notify seven utility companies where digging will take place. These companies send out locate technicians to mark the underground lines with colored paint and/or flags.

By respecting the location of the paint marks and flags you can avoid dangerous contact with underground facilities. Notify the Utilities Protection Center at least two (2) business days before excavation begins on public and private property, rights of way and easements. Know what's below. Call before you dig, simply dial 811. Established in 1974, the UPC is a non-profit organization comprised of over 700-member utility companies, including cities and counties throughout Georgia that benefit through reductions in lost time, accidents, service interruptions and costly repairs. It is estimated that the UPC notification system has saved its member utilities and the public at-large from hundreds of millions of dollars in expensive repairs during its years of public service to the citizens of Georgia. The program is credited with helping to prevent countless potentially life threatening situations and the dangers and inconveniences associated with service interruptions.

The UPC strives to encourage four Dig Safely practices:
1) Call before you dig.
2) Wait the required amount of time for marking.
3) Respect the marks.
4) Dig with care.

The UPC, keeping Georgians safe and connected, Call Before You Dig, every project, every time, dial 811 or (1-800-282-7411) for immediate notification from any part of the state. Callers in the Atlanta area may call 770-623-4344. For more information, visit the UPC web site at www.gaupc.com. For more about the Georgia "Dig Law" visit the Georgia Public Service Commission's website at www.psc.state.ga.us.

posted March 9, 2009

ETC to Launch New Channel - ME! TV

On April 1, ETC will officially launch ME! TV. This new channel will be housed on channel 56 and will provide ETC subscribers an avenue to watch their self-produced programs on television. Videos are currently being solicited and should be submitted to any ETC office location. The idea behind ME! TV is to generate a sense of community by allowing our local customers the chance to create their own television programming. Whether you’re a parent of a little leaguer or a member of a church choir, ME! TV is your ticket to sharing with the rest of the community.

Each submitted video will go through a screening process and may be edited for time and content purposes. In order for an air date to be scheduled, the show must meet a set of criteria. Most any program that contains local people, sporting events, community events, or anything that your neighbor might like to see on TV, will be accepted.

The following is a list of guidelines for submitting local content to be played on ME! TV:

• All videos must be shot using a tripod to insure steadiness.
• Audio must be clear and understandable.
• All videos submitted must be family-oriented containing no profanity or obscenities.
• Videos cannot contain any advertising.
• Videos must be group oriented. For example, if you’re a parent, you can’t just focus on your child during an event if that child is part of a team or group.

Once the video is submitted, you will be asked to sign a waiver giving us the right to play the program at the discretion of ETC. We also ask that you please supply with your video a brief explanation of the program that is being submitted.

ME! TV is your ticket to becoming your own star! For more information, contact the ETC 3 studio at 706-276-9877.

posted December 21, 2008

New Cable TV shopping show coming to ETC 3 - “Trading Time” to premiere January 5th

There’s a new way to shop coming to North Georgia and the Copper Basin. “Trading Time,” a daily call-in show giving viewers the opportunity to list items for sale, or merchandise they’re looking for, will join ETC3’s growing list of locally produced programming on Monday, January 5th.

During the “Trading Time” broadcast each weekday morning at 11:00, viewers will be able to call in their items and describe them on live television. Sellers and buyers can also submit items via email, including pictures of merchandise, which will be displayed on TV and on a list of classified ads on the “Trading Time” website, all at no charge.

“Trading Time” will be hosted by veteran broadcaster Rich Scott. “Everybody loves a bargain, especially in tough economic times,” said Scott. “Our show will reach over 60,000 potential viewers in four North Georgia Counties and Polk County, Tennessee. That’s a lot of bargain hunters.”

Scott relocated to Polk County, Tennessee in 2002 after a 30 year career in radio and television news. Until September of 2007, the two-time Emmy winner co-hosted “Swap Shop,” a popular daily on-air classified show on a Copperhill radio station. “We had a lot of fun on the radio, engaging callers, and talking about some of the weird stuff they had for sale,” Scott observed. “I’m hoping to bring that same sense of camaraderie and community to ‘Trading Time’, giving folks a smile or two, along with the chance to buy and sell.”

In addition to its live airing each weekday morning at 11:00am, an encore broadcast of ETC3’s “Trading Time” will be seen each weekday at 5:30pm and Midnight. Viewers are encouraged to call in their items to the special “Trading Time” toll-free number, 866-989-2289 during the live broadcast each day. Items and photographs may also be submitted at any time via email to tradingtime@etcmail.com. Buyers and sellers can check the list of available sale items on line, 24 hours a day at www.northganow.com/tradingtime.

“Trading Time” is the latest addition to ETC3’s growing list of daily live, local programming that includes “North Georgia Now Today” with host Cherie Martin, and “North Georgia Now News.” Roger Futch, Chief Operating Officer of ETC calls the new program a part of the cable TV company’s continuing effort to provide unique, local programs for its customers. “Our subscribers tell us that local shows are among the things they enjoy most about ETC,” said Futch. “Our live, local high school football broadcasts were a huge success this fall. We see ‘Trading Time’ as one more sign of our commitment to provide quality, local television to the communities ETC serves.”

posted July 25, 2008

ETC to Upgrade Email Services.

Reliability and functionality are crucial elements to a truly valuable email service. ETC is taking steps to get even better on both fronts. This fall ETC will be upgrading its email system in order to offer better value to our users, providing you with more flexible tools with which to communicate and do business. Some highlights of our new system include:

- Large mailbox storage capacity
- Enhanced spam and virus filtering
- New webmail interface with increased functionality
- Calendar, contacts, and document sharing
- Instant Messaging
- Tasks and Briefcase for file storage
- Mobile - Over-the-air push synchronization of mail, contacts, and calendar
- Faster and more reliable hardware and software

Stay Tuned! In preparation for this upgrade we will notify you directly with specifics on when the upgrade will take place and what to expect during the upgrade. ETC is committed to the principal of providing our customers with the best service and value in our area.

posted July 24, 2008

ETC now offers wireless service with nights and weekends beginning at 7:00 p.m!

By using the same towers as other large wireless companies, ETC offers a nationwide coverage area. ETC Wireless offers an “unlimited” plan in addition to a wide variety of other individual and family plans to fit your needs. ETC can also customize a wireless plan for your business.

From basic handsets for folks who just want to stay in touch wherever they go, to smart phones for those who want to take the office with them, ETC has a wireless phone to meet your needs. With a smart phone from ETC, you can check email, get weather, news, sports, and directions as well as manage your contacts and appointments by synchronizing your wireless phone with your desktop computer! ETC Wireless also offers text packages, camera phones and multi-media (picture) messaging, broadband plans, and wireless air cards.

With ETC Wireless you get all of the features that you have come to expect from the large nationwide wireless companies combined with the small-town, personal care that ETC’s customers deserve. Please call 800-660-6826 and speak to a representative about ETC Wireless today!

posted May 27, 2008
ETC Ellijay Bluegrass Festival to be broadcast LIVE on ETC TV 3 on Saturday June 7, 2008

Please join us on March 3rd, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Customer Appreciation Day. Visit any ETC main office location and enjoy a snack of coca-cola and peanuts. While you’re there, register to win a 42” Plasma HDTV and rocking chairs for adults and children. Then tune in to ETC3 on Wednesday, March 5th at 9 a.m. to find out if you are a winner

Help us raise money for the American Cancer Society….Tune in to Channel 3 on Saturday, March 8th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the ETC3 Relay for Life Telethon. Each community will be raising money to go toward their final total for Relay for Life. You may call in to make a pledge for one of the communities in our service area (Gilmer, Pickens, Fannin, Ball Ground or Copper Basin), or a general pledge can be made that will be equally divided among the communities. Call 1-866-711-CURE (2873) to make your pledge. All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society.

posted February 20, 2008

ETC's George Robinson presents a check for $15,000 to help
with the newly formed Copper Basin High School Band.

More Press Releases: