As I write this,
we’re in unprecedented
and
uncertain times.
The coronavirus
(COVID-19)
pandemic has
affected so many
of our longstanding institutions
and disrupted daily life for all of
us. In the case of Tipmont and
Wintek, our delivery of critical
infrastructure makes our responsibility
to the communities we serve
more important now than ever.
The cover story in this month’s
Indiana Connection takes a statewide look at
the rural internet gap that Wintek
powered by Tipmont has been
addressing for several years now.
The cover photo was taken along
N 75 E in our Battle Ground build
area. As the new (and hopefully
short-lived) reality of social
distancing has emerged, I am
reminded of why our mission to
provide essential services to rural
communities is so crucial.
In recent days, health care officials
have been calling for an expansion
of telemedicine to keep those who
might not be infected away from
hospitals and outpatient clinics. As
many of us in rural communities
know, telemedicine just isn’t feasible
when your internet service is
inadequate to the task.
Many workers have been encouraged
to telecommute. When your
home internet connection can’t
handle a connection with your
workplace, that hurts your productivity
and puts you at a disadvantage.
Nearly all of the schools and daycare
facilities have closed, leaving
working parents with school-age
children facing difficult decisions.
I’ve met many of you who’ve told
me about your trips to McDonald’s
or Starbucks to keep up with
e-learning work. When those options
aren’t available, what’s left?
The answer is “we” are.
On Monday, March 16, our Wintek
crews switched on free public WiFi
in the North Montgomery High
School parking lot. The public WiFi
will remain available until it is no
longer needed. North Montgomery
Superintendent Dr. Colleen Moran
shared this with us:
North Montgomery is so appreciative
of the public WiFi provided by Tipmont at this unprecedented
time of uncertainty. Since we
do have several rural students
without access to high speed
Internet, this resource alleviates a
great deal of anxiety and frustration
for our families.Dr. Colleen Moran, North Montgomery
Superintendent
This is what we’ve been doing
since the late 1930s – providing
essential services where private
companies won’t. Know that we recognize and
cherish our special responsibility
to you. We’ll be there, no matter
what.
