Peach Belt Conference to form a Division II conference. Following a second meeting on Dec. 3, 1989, five of those 11 schools, plus two others, formed the Peach Belt Athletic Conference and began play in the fall of 1990. The seven charter members of the conference were Armstrong Atlantic State University (now Armstrong State University), Columbus State University, Francis Marion University, Georgia College (now Georgia College & State University), Lander University, USC Aiken, and USC Upstate. The name Peach Belt Athletic Conference was adopted in January 1990 and modified to Peach Belt Conference in May 2000. Augusta State University joined the conference in
North State Communications In 1905, the High Point company was incorporated as North State Telephone Company. In 1919, Hayden bought the Southern Bell system in High Point, which had operated since 1907. In 1920 North State became the first telephone company in the state to install the automatic-dial system. In 1929 the company bought the Randleman system, and in 1935 the Thomasville company became part of North State. In 2004, North State began offering DirecTV digital satellite TV. In 2005, North State spent $30 million to begin offering the area's first fiber optic residential service. In 2007, North State's cell phone service changed