Residents of Alpine and Fort Stockton will soon lose their cable TV service as TDS Telecom plans to discontinue this offering by September 26. This move is part of TDS’s broader agreement to sell its cable systems in these towns and three other Texas locations, with the transaction expected to close by the fourth quarter of 2024.
Nevill Holdings Inc., the parent company of Big Bend Telephone Co., will acquire the cable systems in Alpine and Fort Stockton. Meanwhile, Poka Lambro Telecommunications Ltd. will take over systems in Seminole, Seagraves, and Denver City. Despite these acquisitions, neither Nevill Holdings nor Poka Lambro will continue offering cable TV, leaving residents to seek alternatives such as satellite TV or streaming services.
TDS Telecom confirmed that 166 video subscribers in Alpine and 341 in Fort Stockton will be affected by the shutdown. Broadband and VOIP customers will transition to Big Bend Telecom and Poka Lambro, but these new providers have chosen not to offer terrestrial video services.
According to documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission, TDS notified affected residents on August 21 about the need to find alternative TV service providers. The notice reassured customers that their internet and phone services would remain uninterrupted as cable TV services are phased out.
This change reflects a larger national trend of declining traditional pay-TV services, with more households moving toward internet-based streaming options. Both Poka Lambro and Big Bend Telephone Co. have longstanding presences in West Texas, providing telecommunications services across the region, including high-speed fiber internet.
