C Spire Earns Cisco Secure Networking Specialization

RIDGELAND, Miss.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 7, 2026--

C Spire, an advanced technology provider that delivers customer-inspired solutions to transform how people and businesses connect, live and work, has earned the Cisco Secure Networking Specialization in the United States, becoming one of only four companies in the nation and the only regionally based provider to achieve the designation.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260807557255/en/

C Spire has partnered with Cisco for 19 years and continues to expand its portfolio of advanced networking, cybersecurity and managed technology solutions for businesses across the Southeast and beyond.

“This specialization demonstrates our ability to deliver sophisticated, value-added Cisco solutions through our deep technical expertise, advanced sales capabilities and comprehensive service offerings,” said Brad Carpenter, C Spire Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, Business Technology. “As businesses continue to adopt AI and place greater importance on cybersecurity and encryption, this specialization, combined with our recent triple ISO certifications, reinforces that C Spire is a reliable and trusted technology partner committed to helping customers navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape while staying at the forefront of technological advancement.”

To receive this status, C Spire underwent a comprehensive three-day assessment of its technical capabilities, service delivery processes and customer support operations. The review verified the company’s ability to help organizations securely connect users, locations, applications and data across increasingly complex network environments.

The designation reflects C Spire’s continued investment in engineering expertise, cybersecurity best practices and managed services that help customers reduce risk while supporting business growth and digital transformation initiatives. As organizations continue to expand cloud adoption, remote connectivity and AI-powered applications, secure and resilient network infrastructure has become a critical business requirement.

“Our mission is to improve lives through technology, and at the core of that mission are our people,” Carpenter said. “We operate at a high caliber through our technical expertise and proven processes, and this achievement demonstrates our ability to deliver modern networking solutions that help organizations protect critical assets, maintain business continuity and create a foundation for future innovation.”

ABOUT C SPIRE

C Spire is a privately held advanced technology company that delivers customer-inspired solutions, transforming how people and businesses connect, live, and work. With a proven legacy of innovation, C Spire is elevating connected living by providing customers with fiber-powered smart homes, AI-enhanced experiences and 5G connectivity.

C Spire is accelerating tomorrow's business growth with secure fiber networks, AI-driven cloud solutions and intelligent collaboration tools. The company, based in Ridgeland, Miss., is the largest privately held U.S. wireless carrier, a leading fiber internet provider in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, and an award-winning tech solutions partner for businesses across 49 states.

This news release and other announcements are available atwww.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire, visitwww.cspire.comor follow us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/cspireor X atwww.x.com/cspire.

C Spire Earns Cisco Secure Networking Specialization

CHICAGO (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration this week ordered inspections for hundreds of Boeing planes, following reports of cracks in some older models.

The now-finalized rule, which was unveiled Thursday and kicks in Sept. 10, applies to certain aircraft under three Boeing 737 Max models: the 737-8, 737-9 and 737-8200. The FAA estimates this covers 471 planes — and said it is using this directive to address “the unsafe condition" tied to prior reports.

So far, no cracks have been found in these specific Max models. But when proposing the rule back in November, the FAA noted it had received reports of cracks in a forward bear strap for several older, “Next-Generation” 737 planes. Bear straps are metal sheets that reinforce areas on planes like doorways and emergency exits.

The Max jets have “a similar design and build process” to the older models, “making those airplanes susceptible to the same crack condition,” the FAA wrote in November. The agency warned that the issue could “adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane" if not addressed.

In a statement, Boeing said that it previously identified and reported this issue — and “has been working with operators on it over the past six years.”

The Virginia-based aircraft maker said it sent operators inspection instructions for the affected Next Generation 737s back in 2019, and the FAA later mandated those checks in 2021. The company added that it had already expanded those inspections to Max jets — and the FAA's latest directive now similarly mandates that process.

“We support both directives and continue to support our airline customers,” Boeing said in a statement.

The FAA noted Thursday that its directive also requires inspections of the fuselage skin of planes with existing repairs.

Boeing has been battered by years of safety, quality and production challenges — notably in the aftermath of two deadly crashes involving the larger Max 8 that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019, as well as a 2024 incident in which a panel flew off one its Max 9 planes operated by Alaska Airlines midflight.

Just last month, the FAA said Boeing would again be allowed to take responsibility for certifying all of its 737 Max and 787 planes.

FILE - The logo for Boeing appears on a screen above a trading post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, July 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)