HTC Officials Announce Membership Expansion

HTC officials announced last week that membership in the Cooperative, with its associated benefits, has expanded to include all HTC customers with qualifying services. 

HTC now grants full Cooperative membership to all residential and business customers receiving any of the following HTC qualifying services: telephone, cable television, high-speed internet and data, mobile telephone or security monitoring; regardless of service location in Horry and Georgetown Counties.

“For years, membership was limited to the geographical service boundary established by the South Carolina Public Service Commission in 1952 and was only available to those with traditional telephone and/or cable television service,” said Mike Hagg, chief executive officer of HTC. “While we still believe that traditional landline service is the most reliable and affordable form of service, we have recognized that technology has changed the way people communicate. We have also recognized the need to update the Cooperative’s membership structure to reflect those changes as well.”

Members receive the following key benefits:

• Eligibility for capital credits – Membership in a cooperative represents ownership of that organization. While HTC operates as a “non-profit” cooperative, when a profit is earned these profits are allocated back to the members in the form of capital credits. So as the cooperative enjoys financial success, members of HTC share in the success as well. The more services a customer has with HTC, the greater the opportunity for increased capital credits. When these credits are paid, they are issued to the member name on the capital credit account. While the allocation and payment of capital credits is dependent upon the Cooperative’s operating condition and need for future capital, HTC has been able to pay over $85 million back to our members since 1979 with $4 million disbursed in 2010 alone. Benefits for existing members will not change and any capital credit allocations earned prior to January 1, 2011 will not be impacted.
• Voting Rights – You will now be entitled to vote on important matters including the election of our board of directors. Each member is entitled to one vote.
• Competitive Pricing – Members of the Cooperative share in very competitive pricing on our products and services.
• Community focus – Members can take pride in the fact that the money that is generated in this community is used in this community to improve the quality of life for all.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our loyal customers to meet membership criteria and reap the numerous benefits of being a member of our Cooperative,” continued Hagg. “We take pride in our products, our employees and our service and consider it a privilege to serve this community.”

Some existing board districts will expand to encompass all service areas including Murrells Inlet-District 8, Conway-District 1, Socastee-District 6, and Wampee/Little River-District 5. The overall number of board of director seats and composition of the Board of Directors is not expected to change.

Existing and new members needing more information about the qualification changes for membership can call an HTC representative at (843) 365-2154 or visit www.htcinc.net/about-membership.cfm.