Utilities
A strong utility system is important to a community's economic future. Jackson Energy Authority and TVA are major players in Jackson's economic growth and in its ability to attract more jobs. JEA provides the necessary infrastructure of water, wastewater, electric and gas services so the community can grow.
Through a variety of rate schedules and incentive programs, Jackson Energy Authority can provide the utility service any industry needs at competitive costs. JEA's administrative and technical staff assist commercial and industrial customers with utility site information, rate calculations, technical assistance and engineering expertise.
JEA's utilities are monitored continuously by a sophisticated computer network to provide reliable service and a quick response time. JEA is on hand 24 hours a day to handle emergency situations, such as voltage or pressure problems.
Infrastructure is extremely important to companies as they decide where to expand and build new plants. Jackson Energy Authority has a reputation for having a well-maintained utility system, long-term and reliable sources of supply and employees who know how to get the job done right. For more information, visit Jackson Energy Authority's Web site.
Telecommunications
Aeneas Internet and Telephone
Aeneas is your total telecommunications provider. Aeneas is locally owned and operated, basing their corporate office in Jackson, Tennessee.
Internet Service Provider:
Aeneas Internet and Telephone is Tennessee's only facilities based ISP/CLEC. Aeneas started out as an Internet Service Provider in 1995, and soon grew into west Tennessee's largest Internet provider offering services such as:
Dialup Internet Access, ISDN Internet Access, Dedicated T1 Access, Broadband DSL, Web Hosting and Development, Email, PITH
Competitive Local Exchange Carrier:
In 1999, Aeneas became a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) in order to provide Tennesseans with a choice on local and long distance telephone. In 2001, Aeneas began providing broadband Internet and VoIP telephone over the Jackson Energy Authority's Fiber to the Home network. Becoming a CLEC has allowed Aeneas to offer services such as:
Local Telephone, T1, Frame Relay, DS3, VoIP, Long Distance, ISDN Lines, RI
AT&T Corporation
AT&T is confident that the county's state-of-the-art telecommunications network can meet any industry's need. Building on its proud heritage of more than a century of service to Jackson, AT&T provides complete solutions and access to the most sophisticated telecommunications services in the world, including the latest in e-commerce, voice, data, wireless, long distance, and online and directory advertising services. BellSouth is the primary telecommunications access company for Madison County, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Co., and Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.
Switching Centers:
The community's two all-digital switching centers provide fiber optic connections to all surrounding switching centers, including Memphis. Specifically, Jackson's main switching center houses a Northern Telecom DMS 100/200 digital switch equipped with Frame Relay. Long distance service reliability has been increased significantly with the location of an alternate long distance tandem switch at the main switching center. It is an alternate to the Memphis LATA Tandem Switch. The Northside switching center houses an AT&T #5ESS digital switch. The 100 percent fiber connectivity between switching centers enable selected inter-office diversity.
Both centers also are equipped with:
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) capabilities, which allow voice and high speed data transfer on one line.
Common Channel Signalling (CCS7), the technology platform that provides Intelligent Network Services, such as TouchStar and Memory Call.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), broadband technology that provides high-speed Internet access and fast downloads and emails.
Other Features:
Long distance companies with local Point of Presence (POPs) are MCI, AT&T and Aeneas.
Local exchange fiber optic cable deployed in several areas throughout the county.
County-wide local calling area.
Many of the advanced telecommunications features are the result of a cooperative Advanced Technology Plan between AT&T and the Regulatory Authority.
Jackson Energy Authority
JEA is now building a new fiber optic telecommunications network to provide every home and every business in Jackson with end-to-end fiber connectivity. That will mean greater competition and better service on cable television, Internet access, and local and long distance telephone services for JEA customers.
Over the next ten years, JEA plans to spend approximately $60 million to construct and complete this new, cutting-edge telecommunications network for Jackson. JEA will build and operate the network and directly provide cable television service. JEA will contract with local groups to provide telephone and Internet service, as well as involve local groups to provide community programming.
JEA very carefully selected a network design that will be "future proof" to technology changes.
The fiber network is simply a signal pathway that has unlimited capacity to handle any future bandwidth demands. It does not contain electronic components that can become obsolete, unlike other local systems that were built with limited bandwidth capability and will require additional capital investment to meet future needs.
The nation's vast communications infrastructure is clearly being built with fiber optic cable. This is important to businesses and telecommuters who need to transmit heavy data volume to and from their workplace. While alternative wireless technologies are being explored around the nation, that technology is limited in its ability to transmit data at high speeds in both directions. Additionally, wireless technology is not as secure as dedicated fiber connectivity. Businesses will not want to transmit sensitive information over the air and risk competitive interception
