Wamego Provides Wi-Fi
to Customers All around the Community

Wamego Telephone Co., Kansas

NTCA member Wamego Telephone Co. (WTC; Wamego, Kan.) has developed an innovative strategy to make Internet access more available within its community. A little over a year ago, WTC representatives read an article about how a bigger telecom company was wiring Times Square in New York City with free Wi-Fi for its customers. WTC decided there was nothing holding it back from doing the same for its customers, except rather than bringing Wi-Fi to Times Square, it would bring the service to customers at area parks, recreational centers, downtown offices and even football fields. The Wi-Fi in these areas-also called "hotspots" – is now free for all WTC customers but limited to the bandwidth they pay for at home. For noncustomers, a small, daily fee is charged.

WTC's hotspots program has been well received. Some residents choose to pay the daily fee rather than sign up for monthly service. WTC has noticed, however, that the more that noncustomers use the service, the more uses they find for it-leading to increased demand. WTC explained that it is much cheaper to sign up for monthly service than it is to use the Wi-Fi daily. Ideally, this development will lead to more permanent adopters of broadband.

Two of the most significant barriers to broadband adoption are the lack of access (where broadband isn't available or is too expensive) and the lack of demand (where people don't recognize the need for broadband in their lives). With the added access and expansion of its Wi-Fi network, WTC hopes to see people become more familiarized with the Internet and better appreciate its infinite possibilities.

In short, the availability of broadband helps increase its adoption. WTC has played an important role in working to provide broadband access, thus combating both the barriers of access and demand.