The development of rural broadband is a priority for rural telephone companies.

FCC policies, however, have had the result of making cost recovery for broadband networks more difficult," said Larry Townes, Chairman of Townes Tele-Communicat ions, Inc., parent company of Walnut Hill Telephone Company. "Technological inno vation is thus a key to addressing this deployment challenge and unintended poli cy consequences. Townes Tele-Communications is glad to be part of this effort." "We are extremely proud to announce that we have now completed assembly, testing and shipment of our first order against our backlog. In completing Walnut Hill' s xMax network equipment order, we have achieved the significant milestone of of fi