Enough can't be said about the leaps and bounds that we as a society have experienced over the last 15 years. From the ease and accessibility of wireless telephone services to the explosion of the Internet to the growth of social media, the importance of integration and being connected is becoming paramount.

At HTC, we offer a great service that allows you to do this when you're building your new home. HTC's Home Integration prepares today's homes for tomorrow's technologies through a simple three-step turnkey process.

Step one is the design phase. In this phase, HTC Home Integration coordinators work with you, the future homeowner, and your builders to design what you need and want in the latest in residential technologies for now and for future use.

The second step is the install phase. During this phase, HTC-certified installers work with builders during the rough-in and trim-out phase of new home construction to coordinate on-time installation of each Home Integration product.

Phase three is the "turn-on" of your service. It is now when all of the planning and installing come to fruition as HTC Home Integration coordinators make the transition into a new home easy by having the new services turned on and fully functional before you move into your new home.

Now that you know the process, I bet you're asking what's included in home integration from HTC? Well, the answer is a lot. The service list includes:

• Telephone • High Speed Internet • Home Networking • Structured Wiring • Digital Cable and DVR • Surround Sound • Whole House Audio • Home Theatre • Security • Central Vacuum • Home Intercom • HTC Bluewave Fiber-To-The-Home

If you're interested about learning more about customizing your new home, contact an HTC Home Integration Coordinator at 843-369-7233 or visit "http://www.htcinc.net/integration.cfm" for more information.

And remember, here at HTC we're working to wire today's homes to take advantage of the full potential of tomorrow's digital world. Until next time, feel free to share your thoughts on what's happening at HTC in the "Talk Back" section below.

Best, Tom

HTC is dedicated to supplying the best possible goods and services to our customers, which is reflected in our more than 50 years of experience in providing reliable communications products such as: cable television service; wireless cell phone service; Internet service; home security monitoring; and home phone service. And in case you haven't heard, the TV (cable included) industry is making a change for the better on June 12, 2009. On this date, all television stations will begin broadcasting only in digital format, and analog TV users may have some adjustments to make. This switch is required and affects all full powered television broadcasting stations that use an over-the-air signal including local stations such as WPDE, WBTW and WMBF. National channels such as ESPN, HGTV and others are not affected by this switch as they use satellite technology to deliver their signals.

Originally set to take place back in February, the "big switch" was delayed when the U.S. House of Representatives voted on February 4 to delay the switch to digital from the scheduled February 17 date to June 12. The Senate had already approved the bill, thus making way for President Obama to sign into action. The delay proposal was made amid concerns that millions of Americans were not ready for the Big Switch, thus allowing Americans more time to purchase digital converter boxes.

With just over one week until the "big switch," there is no need to panic, especially if you're already an HTC customer. Being an HTC customer, you're prepared for the switch and have nothing to worry about due to having HTC Digital Cable in your home, regardless of whether you have an older analog set or a new digital television.

However, if you're reading this and are not an HTC Digital Cable subscriber and are watching television via over-the-air signal with an antenna, you will be affected. To make sure you are prepared, you have a few options. The easiest and most convenient option would be to subscribe to HTC Digital Cable so that we can take care of all the necessary preparation for you. If subscribing to cable is not a viable option, you can also continue to receive your signal with an over-the-air antenna, but you might have to make a few adjustments.

Digital TV (DTV) is a newer form of technology for receiving TV broadcasts. It offers better picture and sound, as well as interactive features like online program guides. Broadcasters are already making the transition, sending TV in both analog and digital formats and some are only broadcasting in digital. TV manufacturers have also prepared for this, meaning you may already have a digital TV and not even know it.

There are certain terms to look for in your TV manual when figuring out if it is digital, such as:

• ATSC • Digital Tuner • Digital Receiver • DTV • HDTV

If your TV is labeled "digital ready," this doesn't mean you are safe. It means you will need to buy a digital-to-analog converter box, which costs anywhere from $50 to $75. There's a $40 coupon here to help offset this cost from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, but please be mindful that there may not be enough money to provide enough coupons for everyone. If you plan to buy a converter, get yours ASAP from your favorite electronics retailer.

Here at HTC, we're looking forward to the "big switch." Until next time, feel free to share your thoughts on what's happening at HTC in the "Talk Back" section below.

Best,

Tom

Here at HTC we're busy getting Fit. FitTV, that is!

As part of HTC's commitment to bringing you the best cable television has to offer, we've added FitTV to the HTC Digital Cable line-up.

Now available on Channel 151, FitTV is a part of HTC's Digital Passport package. A member of the Discovery family of channels, FitTV inspires you to achieve fitness and well-being on your terms. The programs on FitTV are designed to motivate viewers to reduce stress, create healthier meals and build a more active lifestyle. Regardless of where any of us are on our fitness journey, FitTV keeps us moving with shows like All Star Workouts, Art of the Athlete, Namaste Yoga, Total Body Sculpt with Gilad and more. We're excited about adding FitTV to our channel line-up and hope that you enjoy!

Until next time, feel free to let me know your thoughts on what's happening at HTC.

Best, Tom

As you may have read in my post a few weeks ago, HTC was in the throes of remodeling our 38th Avenue location in Myrtle Beach. As of today, the remodeling is now complete and this HTC location is again fully operational.

Now that this project is complete, we have downsized to half of the approximately 7,000 square feet that made up the location. However, there is no need to worry. Just because we've trimmed the size of this location doesn't mean we're cutting back on continuing to provide you the best in communications products and services.

As in the past, the 38th Avenue location will continue to serve as a retail office with staff on hand to help with all of your cable television, landline phone, home security and mobile phone needs. In addition, HTC has also installed new demonstration areas for High Definition cable TV and high-speed internet services.

Remember that you can stop by Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to pay your bill, talk to a CSR or add another great HTC communications service.

We're happy with the end result of this project and hope you will be too.

Until next time, feel free to let me know your thoughts on what's happening at HTC.

Best, Tom

I'm sure as you'll notice, your HTC Digital Cable may cost a little bit more this month. Believe you me, it was not an easy decision to increase the cost of your monthly bill, especially in such difficult financial times.

As in past years, television programming fees make up the majority of the expense involved with offering you the best in cable services.

Each channel in our lineup has an associated expense that HTC must pay for each customer per month. Many of these fees have increased this year. In addition to typical cable network programming fees, we are also dealing with retransmission consent. This is the process in which a cable operator must now negotiate with local network affiliates to get permission to carry their programming. Up until now, HTC has been able to operate under agreements that did not require cash compensation to local stations. As a result of this combination of fee increases, our Basic and Plus rates will be adjusted to help offset the cost of increased programming fees.

On the bright side, the rates on our Digital Passport service and set-top boxes remain the same as in 2008.

Moving forward in 2009, HTC Digital Cable wants to continue to make sure you get the best value for your services and has created many new bundle packages that can save you money across all of our products.

Until next time, feel free to let me know your thoughts on what's happening at HTC.

Best, Tom

The excitement regarding this year's NCAA Final Four is so electric you can feel it in the air.

Here at HTC, we're excited because we're able to bring the games, highlights and background stories to you this year in High Definition (HD) thanks to our partnership with WBTW-HD (channel 813) and CBS College Sports Network-HD (channel 898).

Make sure to tune in beginning Saturday night at 6:07 p.m. for Michigan State versus the University of Connecticut, followed by the North Carolina Tarheels taking on Villanova. The winners of these two games will square off Monday night, April 6.

In addition to the conclusion of "March Madness," through the CBS College Sports Network, HTC will be able to bring you thousands of hours of original college sports programming, features, talk shows and documentaries, as well as extensive women's sports coverage. Its regular season and championship event coverage draws from every major collegiate athletic conference and division, in addition to nine NCAA championships. CBS College Sports Network televises 35 men's and women's college sports including football, basketball, baseball, Ultimate Frisbee, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, wrestling and volleyball from every major conference. The network holds multi-media and marketing rights for the Mountain West Conference, the Atlantic 10 Conference, Conference USA, the Big West Conference, the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Navy athletics. Don't forget, HTC NetRacer customers can watch many of the CBS College Sports programs online via CBS College Sports XXL. It is free for HTC NetRacer customers.

We're excited about being able to bring so many sports options to you and hope you enjoy our sports channel line-up, whether it is on your TV or on your PC.

Until next time, feel free to let me know your thoughts on what's happening at HTC.

Best, Tom

If you haven't recently visited our 38th Avenue location in Myrtle Beach, you're missing the construction that's currently underway!

Since we opened our new Towne Centre location in Carolina Forest last fall, we've been transitioning many Business Services staff to the newer, more spacious location. With this said, we have not been utilizing our space on 38th Avenue to its fullest potential. What can HTC be doing to remedy this you say? Remodel.

We're in the midst of remodeling and when the project is complete, we'll be giving up half of the approximately 7,000 square feet that made up the original location. But don't fret. Just because we're trimming the size of this location doesn't mean we'll be cutting back on continuing to provide you the best in communications products and services.

38th Avenue will continue to serve as a retail office with staff on hand to help with all of your cable television, landline phone, home security and mobile phone needs. In addition, HTC will be installing new demonstration areas for High Definition cable TV and high-speed internet services. Stop by Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM and on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

The remodeling should be complete by mid-April and we're excited about these changes. We hope that you find them convenient for your routine business with HTC and continue to bear with us as we complete this project.

Until next time, feel free to let me know your thoughts on what's happening at HTC.

Best, Tom

HTC isn't just about cable and telephone services. We offer a full line of the best, most reliable communications products currently available. These include: cable television service; wireless cell phone service; Internet service; home security monitoring; and home phone service.

In recognizing that a person's home is their sanctuary, today I'd like to share some info about our home security monitoring services. HTC Gate Keeper Security, our home security product, provides incomparable 24-hour protection for your family, home, property and possessions. Each HTC Gate Keeper system is designed to provide you with customized protection - the right protection, at the right price. The Gatekeeper security system is great because it has several standard features that can keep your mind at ease, whether you're going on vacation or just to the grocery store. They include: a control panel; motion detector; sounder; keypad; and two motion sensors.

In addition, there are several upgradeable features for Gatekeeper. They include: passive infrared motion (PIM) sensors; glass break detectors; smoke detectors; carbon monoxide detectors; gas detectors; rate of rise heat detectors; and environmental sensors.

If you're in the market to make your home more secure, HTC is offering a $99 installation special now through April 30. In addition, there are different tiered monthly monitoring fees which are: $22.99 a month for a three year contract; $27.99 for a two year contract; and $34.99 for a one year contract.

To learn more about Gate Keeper, or to set up your installation, call 369-SAFE.

Until next time, feel free to let me know your thoughts on what's happening at HTC.

Best, Tom

At HTC, we have more than 50 years of experience in providing the best, most reliable communications products available. These products include: cable television service; wireless cell phone service; Internet service; home security monitoring; and home phone service. And we're ready for the "Big Switch."

In case you haven't heard, the "Big Switch" from analog to digital for television stations in the U.S. has been postponed until June 12, 2009.

After a U.S. House of Representatives vote of 264-158 and the sign-off by President Obama, the switch has been postponed amid growing concerns that many Americans would not have been ready by the February 17, 2009 deadline, which was set by Congress in 2006. Again with just four months until the "Big Switch," there is no need to panic, especially if you're already an HTC Digital Cable customer.

Being an HTC Digital Cable customer, you're prepared for the switch and have nothing to worry about due to having HTC Digital Cable in your home, regardless of whether you have an older analog set or a new digital television.

However, if you're reading this and are not an HTC Digital Cable subscriber and are watching television via over-the-air signal with an antenna, you will be affected. To make sure you are prepared, you have a few options. The easiest and most convenient option would be to subscribe to HTC Digital Cable so that we can take care of all the necessary preparation for you. If subscribing to cable is not a viable option, you can also continue to receive your signal with an over-the-air antenna, but you might have to make a few adjustments.

Keep in mind that if your TV is labeled "digital ready," this doesn't mean you are ready. It means you will need to buy a digital-to-analog converter box, which costs anywhere from $50 to $75. There's a $40 coupon here to help offset this cost from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, but please be mindful that there may not be enough money to provide enough coupons for everyone. If you plan to buy a converter, get yours ASAP from your favorite electronics retailer.

In addition, keep in mind that on March 6 we'll also be launching www.netracer.net , which will be the new site to which sccoast.net and htcnetracer.com users will be redirected. As a note, the old domains will continue to stay live, so there's no need to reset your bookmarks.

We encourage you to check out the beta version for yourself at http://online.htcnetracer.net/ and let me know if you have any feedback by leaving comments below.

Best,

Tom

This week, we here at HTC are furiously working to finalize the redesigned www.sccoast.net , and www.htcnetracer.com These redesigns are currently in the beta-testing phase and are scheduled to be fully relaunched the second week in March.

There's no need to reset your bookmarks, once the site is live and as user friendly as we can make it, you'll automatically be directed to the new site.

With the upgrades that are being implemented, the new site will give HTC customers, and non-customers alike, every reason to use it for your homepage when accessing the Internet.

The sites are being reformatted to provide new customization features and an improved overall viewing and searching experience for Internet users. They will include a Google® search toolbar and navigational tools for local news, weather, television listings and classified advertising. In addition, there will also be a wide variety of RSS feeds for national news, financial and stock news, entertainment news and health tips and lifestyle sites. Users can also add any RSS feed of their choice to their customized page. So if you follow a particular topic or Web site, you can add that RSS feed.

Another new feature will give users the ability to post their own news content. If you'd like to post news from your neighborhood, church, civic organization or social club, just click on the "Local" button under "Today's News" and follow the instructions. All content will be reviewed prior to posting. If you'd like to become a trusted provider of local content, stay tuned for more information.

HTC-specific content on the site will include HTC member information, HTC Webmail access, access to HTC My Account and HTC alerts. The new site also will include online games, communications tips and links to HTC's corporate Web site, www.htcinc.net and this blog.

We're very proud of the redesigns and hope that everyone finds the sites to be more helpful than ever when they're launched.

We encourage you to check out the beta version for yourself at http://online.htcnetracer.net/ and let me know if you have any feedback by leaving comments below.

Best,

Tom