Spectrum officially open new tech center in Jasper
Company officials from Spectrum Charter Communications welcomed local officials and the Jasper Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce to their new tech center on Highway 63, east in Jasper on June 10, reported KJAS.com.
The facility, which has been Spectrum’s base of operations for a year, has 30 technicians working to connect homes and businesses to the internet, due in part to federal grants through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) and a matching investment by Spectrum. RDOF came out of the lack of connectivity to broadband internet service that became apparent during the pandemic lockdown. Rural areas in Texas were not able to access the internet which effected businesses and educational opportunities for children.
Scott Horne, the area vice president of Field Operations, told KJAS the fiber optic connections that Spectrum is installing will not only take the current 5G speeds that people need for service today, but the equipment will take up to 100 gigabytes and will be sustainable for the next 40 to 50 years.
“Spectrum is building the same infrastructure in Jasper that can be found in Houston, Dallas or any major city in Texas,” said Horne.
County Judge Mark Allen noted Spectrum has invested hundreds of millions of dollars across Texas especially in East Texas.
Weber joins push to bring Discovery home
Recently, U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) joined Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) to bring the Space Shuttle Discovery home to Texas.
Together, they are calling for the shuttle to be relocated from its current location in Virginia to NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, the rightful home of human spaceflight.
On June 20, Weber and Cornyn met with a former space shuttle astronaut, key figures in the aerospace industry, and the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership at Space Center Houston. Following the meeting, Weber announced he will introduce the House companion of Sen. Cornyn’s Bring the Shuttle Home Act.
According to Weber, more than a decade ago, Houston, America’s hub for human spaceflight, was unjustly passed over for one of the retiring space shuttle orbiters due to a politically motivated decision by the Obama Administration.
Despite Houston’s central role in our nation’s space legacy, the shuttles were sent elsewhere. Discovery remains the only shuttle still owned by the federal government and eligible for transfer.
“Bringing it to Houston will not only honor our city’s unmatched contributions to space exploration, it will also serve to educate and inspire the next generation of astronauts, scientists and pioneers,” Weber added.
Entergy Texas marks 25 years of fan donations
As rising heat levels and costs of living continue to impact Southeast Texas communities, Entergy Texas marks the 25th anniversary of its annual fan distribution program to help vulnerable customers stay safe and cool.
This year, the company partnered with 38 agencies to donate 2,000 boxed fans to 11 cities across Southeast Texas, bringing the total number of fans donated to more than 31,000 since the program started in 2000. For families without access to reliable air conditioning, box fans can be a cost-effective way to reduce indoor heat stress, particularly for seniors, children and those with medical conditions.
Entergy Texas is implementing a series of additional measures to help customers and communities stay cool and pay their bills throughout the summer. In May, teams partnered with local contractors to offer A/C tune-ups and weatherization upgrades at no cost to customers during a series of community events in Cleveland and Huntsville.
NextGen Aviation to modernize small aircraft
Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles, Louisiana, reported it will continue to elevate its profile as a leader in aviation infrastructure and innovation. The airport’s latest move — welcoming NextGen Aviation — signals a new era of modernization in general aviation. The company brings with it a specialized focus on equipping small aircrafts with advanced avionics systems, giving older planes the technological upgrades needed to meet today’s safety and performance standards.
NextGen Aviation is not simply providing maintenance; it’s transforming aircraft. By integrating advanced cockpit systems, pilots are gaining tools for better navigation, communication, and situational awareness—capabilities that were once only found in large commercial jets, according to airport officials.
According to David Sprouse, owner of NextGen Aviation, some of the retrofitted aircraft will be more technologically advanced than many commercial carriers. The step forward enhances safety, efficiency, and the overall flight experience for pilots operating in and out of Lake Charles.
