Charter points to its larger offering of high-definition channels, a large library of free movies for premium customers and its long experience in the business.

Carlson said that in the end, each consumer decides what the best value is for them.

“You stay competitive by adding extras, by filling more and more niches. Everyone has different needs and see a different perceived value.”

DeeDra Vosburg, senior marketing manager for HickoryTech, says its competitive edge comes with cutting-edge technology, good prices and customer support. “We just did a survey and had an over 90 percent satisfaction rating from our digital TV customers.”

Jennifer Spaude, director of public and investor relations for HickoryTech, said customers like knowing the company is based locally. “Our entire support network is based right here in Mankato.”

She said the digital network HickoryTech has built — in which TV and other digital data is sent via the Internet — makes it easier to add new services and features in the fast-changing digital industry.

“We were the first in the state to have (Internet Protocol) TV and we’re still one of only a few. It is very cutting-edge technology,” Spaude said.

Mankato roll-out

HickoryTech has in recent years been building an expanded digital system and has TV, Internet and telephone service in several area communities. Its launch into the Mankato and North Mankato markets has been its biggest step — one it’s been doing incrementally.

“We’ve launched it a neighborhood at a time,” Vosburg said. “We’re trying to do it incrementally so the installations don’t get pushed too far out and to make sure it’s done right.”

HickoryTech’s expanded services are now available in all of North Mankato. Last month they began offering TV and Internet services in parts of west Mankato and LeHillier. They expect to have coverage in all of Mankato by the end of 2008.

The company won’t disclose the exact sign-up rate in the Mankato market, but the public company’s financial reports show a steady increase in television business.

At the end of 2006, HickoryTech had 4,632 digital television customers. By the end of September of this year they had added 1,000 more.

“We’ve been very happy with the number of sign-ups,” Vosburg said.

The company’s expansion hasn’t been without glitches. A week ago, HickoryTech offered all its customers a free preview of premium movie channels. But the preview created some software glitches that caused a variety of problems for customers for a few days, from channels being black to channels freezing up.