Alpine Communications Offers
Computer and Internet Classes
Alpine Communications, L.C., Iowa
Alpine Communications, L.C. plays an instrumental role in both the advancement of broadband adoption and in creating customer loyalty. The Elkader, Iowa, provider offers its customers an assortment of workshops, all of which reflect different uses of the company's services and products, such as high-speed Internet, computer networking and digital FusionTV (IPTV).
The classes have proven essential in creating customer loyalty and a computer-savvy community. If a good number of customers are not familiar with a new application or technology-like surfing the Internet or selling a product online-Alpine will offer a class on it. All classes are free to Alpine customers and generally include 8-15 participants. The more comfortable customers are with a new service, the more likely they are to maintain it.
Alpine is a fairly young company, founded in 1997, just as the Internet was starting to gain in popularity. The company recognized even then that the key to increasing the adoption of new services within the community was to first familiarize customers with them.
Alpine first offered classes on email and Internet browsing. Initially, Alpine worked with local libraries, borrowing space and computers to teach its classes. When the company launched DSL service in 2001, it demonstrated to customers how much better the broadband experience was in comparison with dial-up.
These days, customers who take the workshops typically are baby boomers and senior citizens. Tasks that may seem simple to seasoned computer users, such as double-clicking or using a browser, are first steps for these students. Better informed customers eventually can do everything from saving money on their health care costs by ordering prescriptions online to making extra income by selling goods on eBay.
Alpine's approach to educating customers is a great example of how rural telecom companies are using innovative strategies to expand digital literacy and advance broadband adoption.
