Ben Lomand unveils lavish facility
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The telephone cooperative unveiled its sparkling new Plant Operations Center Friday morning and members of the community weren’t shy about voicing their approval.
“Evidently the electric business is not as profitable as the telephone business,” said Caney Fork Electric’s Hubert King during grand opening ceremonies.
There’s much to like about Ben Lomand’s new facility and the giant steps the telephone provider is taking to offer top-of-the-line service.
“We’re going to be the telecommunications provider for this community,” said Ben Lomand CEO Levoy Knowles. “Whatever our customers want, we’re going to try and provide.”
In addition to adding new services over the last decade, such as Internet and DSL connections, Ben Lomand has increased its work force by 50 employees over the last five years. The company now employs over 100 people in McMinnville and about 150 overall when including its offices in Sparta, Spencer and Tracy City.
Knowles said Ben Lomand engineers are experimenting with using video-over copper wire on top of existing phone lines. The new technology will allow Ben Lomand to offer cable service in conjunction with phone service.
“We’re about 24 months away from offering a cable package,” said Knowles. “The biggest hang-up we’re having right now is finding a programming provider.”
Knowles indicated once programming is squared away, the combination of cable and telephone lines will be an all-new service. Someone watching TV when the phone rings will see the caller ID number displayed on the TV screen.
That’s just one instance of new technology Ben Lomand is looking to implement. And the new 43,000-square-foot facility, located across from Bouldin & Lawson on Smithville Highway, is all part of helping that happen.
“As we continue to grow, we have a facility now where we can grow with it,” said Knowles.
Added David Vaughn, “At the old place, we had people sitting on top of people.”
The “old facility” on Chancery Street will continue to be used as corporate headquarters and bills will still to be paid at that office. The Plant Operations Center will house about 50 employees from the service and engineering departments.
Other luxuries at the new facility include:
• Diesel and unleaded fuel pumps for company vehicles;
• A full-time mechanic to service vehicles;
• A multi-camera security system;
• A locker room and shower for line workers who get dirty on the job.
Ben Lomand also has plenty of room for future expansion. The Plant Operations Center uses about five of the 18 acres the company purchased two years ago.