BUHLER, Kan. — As COVID-19 magnifies rural connectivity issues, Buhler-based fiber internet provider, IdeaTek, is taking action to relieve some of the pain. Starting Monday, March 23rd, nine free drive-up WiFi access points will be installed in rural Kansas communities, including: Bentley, Buhler, Haven, Inman, Lindsborg, and Yoder. More deployments are expected in the days to come.
Exact locations are:
Bentley: City of Bentley, 150 S Wichita St, Bentley, KS 67016
Buhler: IdeaTek, 111 Old Mill St, Buhler, KS 67522
Buhler: Buhler City Library, 121 N Main St, Buhler, KS 67522
Inman: Miller Cycle Shop, 211 S Main , Inman, KS 67546
Inman: Inman Public Library, 100 N Main St, Inman, KS 67546
Lindsborg: Rendezvous Adventure, 113 N Main St, Lindsborg, KS 67456
Lindsborg: Raymer Society for the Arts, 212 S Main St, Lindsborg, KS 67456
Yoder: Carriage Crossing Restaurant, 10002 S Yoder Rd, Yoder, KS 67585
Haven, Mt Hope, Andale, Moundridge, and Goesell are all pending site availability.
A map of locations is available here.
These access points will be installed near parking stalls or lots where users can get online from the comfort of their vehicles and still practice social distancing. Each access point is designed to accommodate up to 50 devices at a time, and has a range of 250 feet line of sight. IdeaTek requests users prioritize school, work, or other important online obligations during busy times before using these spots for entertainment purposes. Those using the access points are asked to stay in their vehicles or practice social distancing by keeping at least six feet between themselves and others.
“We’ve always believed internet access is a vital utility for communities,” said Daniel Friesen, IdeaTek’s Chief Innovation Officer. “With jobs, schools, and daily life temporarily transitioning to nearly 100% online in the wake of the coronavirus, it is very evident how important broadband is to the sustainability of life in a modern world; it's a utility, not a luxury.”
IdeaTek selected the communities who received the free access points based on their current service areas, feasibility, and where they could install most rapidly.
“We can’t deploy everywhere, but we want to do what we can,” said Friesen. “These communities have supported IdeaTek for a long time, and this work continues our company’s mission to serve the underserved.”
Communities interested in drive-up WiFi access points can contact Jade Piros de Carvalho, IdeaTek’s Director of Industry and Community Relations, [email protected]. IdeaTek will consider partnering with communities, businesses, and schools where an access point is technically feasible.
“We’re actively working with stakeholders in Hutchinson and other communities to see how we can help and we encourage community leaders and stakeholders to reach out.” said Friesen.
Increasing Connectivity
IdeaTek is taking several additional measures to ensure people in their service area remain connected during the pandemic.
Emergency Service Requests
Those who now require home internet access for school or work can enter their address, select “Emergency Request,” and complete the request form. For those in the current service area, IdeaTek will work to prioritize connections, and work with customers based on their financial needs.
FCC’s Keep Americans Connected Pledge
IdeaTek was one of nearly 400 internet service providers to sign the Federal Communications Commission’s Keep Americans Connected Pledge. IdeaTek pledges to:
Postpone non-pay service suspensions until further notice.
Waive late fees for those in need.
Offer free upgrades to Gigabit broadband service.
*Subject to service and resource availability. As always, service can be downgraded at any time without penalty, after 6 months standard rates apply.
Access in Rural Reno County
Rural Reno County residents will soon have better internet infrastructure and speed upgrades through a new partnership between Skylink Wireless and IdeaTek. Under the name SkyLink Broadband, they are acquiring local fixed-wireless internet provider BTS Advanced Communications, creating a greater pool of resources to solve rural broadband challenges in the area.
“This is a critical time to join efforts, as the BTS owner is retiring and IdeaTek has federal funds to bring fiber to select portions of our service area over the next few years,” said Skylink Wireless owner Ardell Yoder. “As COVID-19 magnifies rural connectivity issues, our mission is to provide first-class service in these areas. “By pooling our resources, Skylink Broadband will have greater access to fiber infrastructure, enabling us to provide even faster, more reliable point-to-point services in the short-term, and fiber to select areas in the future.”