Robin Jenness, WesTel Operations Manager attended the August 7 Sutherland City Council meeting to share information regarding Sutherland’s achievement in reaching the identified standards to reach the designation of “Smart Rural” community. Jenness described a “Smart Rural” community as one that “promotes rural internet network through an internet enabled ap.” WesTel has installed a network of fiber to provide assistance with economic development, education, healthcare and other vital services to the community. She went on to say that WesTel invested over $4 million in the Sutherland community fiber installation. Jenness identified the standards to achieve this designation as offering 100 mbs, internet service to at least 50% of the service area. Here she inserted, “we do provide it to 100%, we are completely fiber network.” She went on to say that at least 50% of the customers had to be provided with internet service. Sutherland boasts connectivity with 88% of its Sutherland customers. Jenness noted that the “Smart Rural” community programs require the internet provider to collaborate and work with its customers to provide the best possible customer experience that they can.
Other benefits listed by Jenness includes the high speed internet creates jobs by allowing people to work from home, encourages people to move back to the community because they have that opportunity. She identified how the high speed internet access allows for creative educational opportunities between teacher and student, noting its usage during COVID. The ability to communicate patient and doctor is an added advantage of the internet access.
WesTel supports the community through donations to various not for profit organizations and grant programs the company has made available. The grant programs are through NTCA, an organization that gave WesTel the “Smart Rural” designation. She described several grant programs available and offered that their information is available on their website.
She offered promotional signs about the program that can be made available to Sutherland to display.
Councilman Chase Cox expressed concern about putting up signage, noting that a city shouldn’t promote “winners and losers.” Cox also asked about unlimited bandwidth, cost and router types and price. Councilperson Johanna Homan asked if the unlimited bandwidth is available to business, to which Jenness replied that the unlimited is currently only available to residential customers but that WesTel is developing an unlimited program for businesses in the Sutherland Community.
Calumet will be recognized at their September 11, 2023 City Council meeting as a “Smart Rural” community.