CORNELIA – After suffering years of withering criticism about its broadband service, Windstream is working hard to change its image. Windstream CEO Tony Thomas recently visited the company’s Georgia headquarters in Cornelia. He met with Windstream’s new Outside Plant Engineering and Construction team to craft a plan for boosting local investments and expand the availability of gig internet speeds across the state.
This past May, the company announced it would internalize its engineering and fiber construction operations. The company says moving those jobs in-house will ensure “the people that build the network will also operate it.”
Windstream announced that J. Berkshire, previously president of state operations for Kinetic in Georgia, has moved into a new role as vice president of engineering and construction. The company will take over construction from outside contractors in 2022 with teams based in more than 70 locations across the 18 states Windstream serves. The company plans to add nearly 1,000 jobs as a result.
Those changes and the commitment to more local investment are potentially good news for consumers. Windstream critics have long accused the company of providing inadequate, unreliable Internet service, especially in rural areas where subscribers have few, if any, other options. In the past, consumers and government officials have accused Windstream of advertising and charging for speeds it did not deliver. In 2014, Windstream reached a $600,000 settlement with the state of Georgia for alleged false advertising. In 2016, former 9th District Congressman Doug Collins took the fight with the Arkansas-based company all the way to Capitol Hill. In February 2019, Windstream filed for bankruptcy but emerged from it a year and a half later after trimming its debt by more than $4 billion and reorganizing its governance.
But that is all in the past where Windstream hopes to leave it. During his recent visit to Cornelia, Thomas met with local officials to talk up future investments and hiring. “It was a pleasure meeting Tony Thomas and the rest of the team during their recent visit to Habersham County,” said Cornelia Mayor John Borrow. “We had a great discussion about the investments Windstream has made and continues to make in our community.”
Since Thomas assumed the role of CEO in 2014, Windstream says its Kinetic broadband service has invested over $500 million in Georgia.
“We are seeking community partners to continue our network expansion across rural Georgia,” said Thomas. “In the first half of 2021, we have enabled over 23,000 locations with fiber technology and are looking to impact that many or more locations in the second half of the year.”
The company provided a list of 47 Georgia towns and cities where it says internet service improvements have been made this year. Northeast Georgia communities listed include Blairsville, Braselton, Clarkesville, Clayton, Cleveland, Commerce, Cornelia, Dahlonega, Helen, Hiawassee, Jefferson, Lavonia, and Tallulah Falls.
“The investment in infrastructure and employment will provide high-speed, reliable internet to more of our citizens than ever before,” said Borrow, adding, “We are grateful that Windstream’s Georgia headquarters is based in Habersham County. We’re especially grateful for the jobs and economic impact Windstream provides to our community.”
Earlier this year, Windstream opened three new retail locations in Toccoa, Cleveland, and Byron. The company now operates a total of eleven retail outlets in Georgia, including one in Cornelia.
