HCTC - Better Internet Support For Our Community
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Several of our customers alerted us of an email they received saying they are approaching the end of their data plan and if they do not confirm within 24 hours of receiving the automated notification, they will be blocked from sending and receiving emails.

We want to assure you this is a scam. If you receive an email requesting this information, please do not respond and delete the email immediately.

If you feel your email account has been compromised, please change your password.

It’s important to remain vigilant against phishing scams and protect your personal information.

Here are some tips to help you avoid falling victim to these scams:

  • Don’t click on links or download attachments from unfamiliar or suspicious emails
  • Be wary of emails that ask for urgent updates of personal or financial information
  • Check the email address and sender information to ensure it’s from a legitimate source
  • Use up-to-date antivirus software on your computer to help protect against malware and phishing scams

We take the security of our customers very seriously, and we apologize for any inconvenience or concern that this scam may have caused. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at 1-800-292-5457.

We want to alert all HCTC customers to a scam referring to our company. We’ve recently learned that business customers are receiving calls stating that HCTC is dropping their long-distance service. This is not true. We want to reassure all customers – business and residential – that HCTC is committed to providing the services we offer and if needed, would communicate any changes in service through writing, not a phone call. We advise against giving out information to anyone claiming to represent HCTC. Please call 800-292-5457 with any questions.

HCTC offers live cameras as a service to the communities we serve. Many of the cameras are in remote locations, are eco-friendly, and running on solar power. If there isn’t sufficient sun to produce solar power, the cameras are unable to broadcast. To report an outage, please contact us by phone at 800.292.5457 or by email at busofc@hctc.coop.

Worry-free maintenance of your home’s internal standard telephone wire and outlets is just a phone call away. When you subscribe to HCTC’s Inside Wire Maintenance Program, we’ll repair or replace any faulty interior wiring or jack. The monthly rate is just $2.95 for the peace of mind to know you’re covered.

Link to ISW Application PDF

Deregulation brought many changes in the telecommunication industry, making it important to define where the “interface” or “demarcation point” between telephone company and customer lies, and what portions of the service are each party’s responsibility. The Network Interface Device (NID), the small box mounted on your home or business, is an easily-noted physical interface point for connections from the company-owned telephone network to provide dial tone and other services to that location. The local telephone company, in this case HCTC, installs the Network Interface Device (NID) on your premise and will maintain service to this point. You, the customer, are responsible for installing your telephone equipment and connecting the telephone wires inside your home or business to the Network Interface Device (NID). If you do not wish to install your own equipment or lines, you may contract with the local telephone company or with an independent communications contractor to install the equipment for you.

Call Before You Dig (It’s the Law!) Simply dial 8-1-1, or call 800.344.8377. Take advantage of our free cable location service before you begin any excavation or digging project. You’ll prevent possible damage to underground lines and avoid costly repairs. Plus, it’s safer for you and better for the environment. Call at least two working days (48 hours) before you dig – it’s the law. Remember, just dial 8-1-1.

Effective August 1, 2022, HCTC telephone customers will notice an increase in their monthly bills due to a recent court order requiring the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to fully fund the Texas Universal Service Fund (TUSF). The TUSF was created by the Texas Legislature to keep rural phone bills affordable by making the rates of rural service comparable to rates in urban areas. The funding of the TUSF program is made possible by the TUSF assessment rate that is set by the PUC and is applied to all taxable intrastate telecommunications receipts on consumers’ bills. Two years ago, the PUC chose to not take action to fully fund the TUSF, forcing rural telecommunications providers to sue the state. A recent court order now requires the PUC to take steps to fully fund the TUSF, paying back more than $200 million owed to rural telecommunications providers. In response, the PUC increased the TUSF assessment rate from 3.3% to 24% for all phone customers in the state – both urban and rural – to collect the money it owes. “HCTC is not happy to see this sharp fee increase. Although we simply collect the fee and forward it to the state, we are working closely with the PUC to encourage a plan that will reduce the surcharge and resulting impact on our customers,” said HCTC CEO, R. Craig Cook.

Contact a customer service representative at 800.292.5457 to request the paperwork required for the release of capital credits to settle an estate. Please note that capital credits paid out to settle an estate are paid at a discounted amount.

Your allocated capital credits remain on HCTC’s books under your name and membership number. Please keep your mailing address current. When the Board of Directors approves the retirement of capital credits, eligible members will receive a check. We may retire capital credits when we receive proper notification a member is deceased.

Under the non-profit provisions of the bylaws for HCTC, each member is entitled to a notice of capital credits. This notice is only a statement showing the capital credits earned which have been allocated to your membership capital account for the year indicated.

No. Capital credit allocations are a record of your pro-rata share of the margins. Capital credits are reinvested to support the operation and growth of the business. HCTC’s Board of Directors annually reviews the finances of the cooperative and determines whether or not a portion of the previously allocated capital credits can be returned to you. The amount and timing of capital credit retirements are at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, in accordance with the bylaws.

As a Cooperative, HCTC’s bylaws provide that telephone service will be provided to members on a non-profit, service-at-cost basis. If payments in any year exceed the actual operating cost of providing telephone service, HCTC must credit the amount in excess of such costs to the patron’s capital credit account(s). Credits are determined annually and are based on patronage to HCTC so that each patron will be treated on a fair and equitable basis.

If you are using our standard single port modem, you will need a wireless router. However, if you don’t own a router or you’re ready to upgrade equipment, HCTC has a combination modem/router that offers wireless capabilities. The combination unit allows us to provide you with technical support for both the modem and router when needed.

No. HCTC provides customers the option of a single port modem or a modem/router combination.

You can contact us by phone at 800.292.5457 or come into one of our locations to review replacement options.

We offer a variety of speeds to fit your household’s needs. Please contact Customer Service at 800.292.5457 or come into one of our locations and we will help pick the plan that is right for you and your family.

Watch this video to see how to set up your email on iOS. It’s easy!

Watch this video to see how to set up your email on an Android device. It’s easy!

HCTC does not cap your service, so you’ll be able to enjoy your high-speed Internet experience without worrying about unexpected data use charges.

It depends on several factors, including if the location has had service with us before. Typical installations are scheduled within five business days.

Your speed test results can vary depending on your computer, router, cabling, firewall and so on. There is also inherent overhead in IP traffic that will result in taking up a small portion of your bandwidth. As long as your speed test results are within 75-80% of the speed you subscribe to, you are probably achieving the highest speeds you can because of all the equipment between your device and the Internet. If you are concerned, you are not achieving the speeds you think you should, you can follow the link below for some ideas on what you can do to improve it. You can also call tech support at 888.638.4282 to troubleshoot.

First, check the status of your modem and router. Start with your modem first to see if its power LED is lit. If you are not getting power to your modem and router, check the power source and make sure it is turned on. If you have a power strip, turn it off and on to reset it. Also, check your Link or Online LED and any activity LEDs. If there is no power or LED activity, turn the modem and router off and wait several minutes before restarting. Next, power the modem back on first and wait until it comes back online before powering the router back on. If your router’s power LED is lit, check the Internet or WAN indicator. On most routers, this should be green and may be flashing. If your router doesn’t have status indicators, look to see if the Ethernet port lights are flashing. If there is no activity, turn the router off. Unplug and reconnect each cable, making sure each cable is seated correctly in the appropriate port. Wait a few minutes before rebooting the router. If this doesn’t correct your issue, contact our tech support department at 888.638.4282.

HCTC offers a variety of convenient payment methods.

  • In Person – You may pay your bill in person at one of HCTC Offices or at an authorized HCTC payment location.
  • By Phone – Call 844.244.1503 to pay your bill by phone 24/7 through our automated payment system at no charge. Please follow the prompts and have your HCTC account number available. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover credit/debit cards or check. To speak with a customer service representative, call 800.292.5457 Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.
  • Online – In the upper right-hand corner of the home page at www.hctc.net, click “Pay My Bill” to pay your bill online. Our e-bill system allows you to receive, view, and pay your monthly bills with a Visa, MasterCard, Discover credit/debit card, or check at no charge. Recurring or single payments can be initiated.
  • By Mail – Send payment with bill remittance stub to: HCTC P.O. Box 1449 Ingram, TX 78025

No. HCTC has one monthly billing cycle.

Bills are due on the 16th of each month. If the 16th falls on a weekend/holiday, the bill is due the following business day.

HCTC bills monthly recurring charges for services one month in advance. Therefore, your first bill may include installation/equipment charges, charges for the next full month, as well as, pro-rated charges for services from the date of install up to the date of your first bill.

HCTC does not charge a late fee. However, if payment is not received by the due date, a termination notice is generated and mailed. The notice includes the date payment needs to be in our office in order prevent disconnection of service. Once disconnected, a reconnect fee will apply.

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