Great Plains Commmunications Cable buys McCook system from Charter

BLAIR -- A transaction was completed today with Charter Communications to make Great Plains Communications the new cable television and broadband Internet provider in McCook.

The McCook cable television system serves approximately 2,000 video and broadband Internet customers. Great Plains Communications says no immediate changes are planned for the channel lineup or pricing.

Great Plains Communications Cable Television is a subsidiary of Great Plains Communications, a fourth generation, family-owned, Nebraska-based communications company with almost 100 years experience serving rural Nebraska. They currently provide more than 80 Nebraska communities with telephone, cable television, high-speed Internet and long distance services, including the communities of Indianola and Culbertson near McCook. Great Plains Communications purchased the Broken Bow, Chadron, Gordon, Oconto, Hay Springs, Rushville and Oshkosh cable systems from Charter in a similar 2005 transaction.

Since 2000, Great Plains Communications has invested over $27 million in digital communications for their communities. In addition to those investments, they cultivate economic development in rural Nebraska, wealth retention within the state, opportunities for youth to remain in their hometowns, and rural communities' interests at state and federal government levels.

"We are very happy to start doing business in McCook," says LeaAnn Quist, Great Plains Communications Cable Television Director. "Both Charter employees, Todd Criger and Don Barenberg, have accepted positions with us and bring tremendous resources to Great Plains Communications. We look forward to expanding our role in McCook and we plan on making exciting improvements to the system once we can assess what changes need made."

Anyone with questions about this process, or how it will impact their service, is encouraged to call 1-888-343-8014. More information on Great Plains Communications can be found online at www.gpcom.com.