Wisper Internet recently donated the proceeds from an employee trivia night to Partners for Pets, a no-kill animal shelter based in St. Jacob, Ill. Last year, the facility rescued 1,675 dogs and cats locally and from neighboring states. The animals are assisted by 250 volunteers who are currently caring for 250 animals both in foster care and more than 100 at the shelter itself. In addition to rescuing animals, Partners for Pets also hosts weekly spay, neutering, and vaccination clinics. Since its inception in 2003, Partners for Pets has rescued roughly 23,000 animals. Both Wisper and Partners for Pets are celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2023! Wisper Internet, based in Mascoutah, Ill, provides reliable internet to more than 19,000 customers in communities across six states. Wisper is a proud supporter of several charities and organizations throughout its coverage areas. Pictured from left to right: Veterinary technicians Lori Miller, Kate Germany; Partners for Pets Executive Director Erika Pratt; Wisper PR and Advocacy Specialist Monte Miller; Shelter tech Renee Bradshaw; and Kennel tech Sharon Autenrieth. (Photo courtesy Wisper Internet)… Read More
Community Outreach
ACP: ‘Wispering’ 350 Connections
There is a lot of “alphabet soup” associated with the internet business. Bits, bytes, gigs, and megs. ISPs, Wi-Fi, and MDUs, just to scratch the surface. Another acronym that many in our industry may not be as familiar with is the ACP: Affordable Connectivity Program. In its first form, the ACP was known as another acronym, the EBB, or Emergency Broadband Benefit program, created during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic to bring not only economic relief to families but also to help those displaced to their homes for work, education, and entertainment, stay connected. A wise man once said the pandemic brought 2030 internet usage to 2020, and our industry, the government, businesses, churches, and schools were caught off guard at first. Today, the new normal seems like all we have ever known. We may never have the true return to “normalcy,” but we are instead realizing the shortfalls and adapting quite nicely… Score one for the American spirit. So, what is the ACP? The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC program to help families and households struggling to afford internet service. This benefit helps to connect eligible households with a discount of up to $30 per month towards broadband service and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Folks can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 towards the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. As you may have guessed by now, Wisper is a “participating provider” and through the arduous work of Acquisition and Compliance Coordinator John S., Wisper has helped connect more than 350 households through the ACP program. But our work isn’t done yet…Sorry, John! Who Is Eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program? A household is eligible if a member of the household meets one of the criteria below: Has an income that is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs, such as WIC, SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or Lifeline; Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision. Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year, or Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income program, subject to FCC approval. Simply put, if a household has children who are eligible for the free and reduced school lunch program or Medicaid, regardless of state, they qualify for the ACP program. According to the School Nutrition Association, pre-pandemic, nearly 100,000 schools/institutions serve school lunches to 29.6 million students daily, including 20.1 million free lunches and 1.7 million at a reduced price (student pays $0.40). Our research shows that Wisper covers areas where the free lunch program for elementary students is high as 72 percent. At Wisper, we believe that in today’s world reliable internet is just as important as a utility like water or electricity. With increased emphasis placed on the absolute necessity for the internet, families should not have to choose between paying for connectivity or other household bills. The ACP is not a handout. It is instead a helping hand for families or households to stay connected. There should be no shame or embarrassment in taking advantage of a government program designed to help us in our everyday lives. Wisper does not administer the program directly. Instead, households or individuals can be linked to the FCC website through wisperisp.com. After the application is complete and they receive an approval letter, they can contact Wisper to get connected to our services. According to statistics supplied to the Biden administration (whitehouse.gov) by the Universal Service Administrative Company, more than 15,065,044 households have connected through the ACP/EBB since its inception. Of those, only 217,693 are on tribal lands. In Wisper coverage states, Illinois is highest with 449,940 enrollees; Missouri has 247,650; Indiana, 283,957; Oklahoma, 227,163, Arkansas, 140,332; and Kansas has had 80,895 households enrolled. California, New York, Texas, and Florida lead the nation with more than 1 million program enrollees and North Dakota is at the bottom of the list with just over 9,500. Many U.S. territories are well below 2,000 participants in the ACP…. Read More
Wisper Supports Honor Flight
Thank You. Two insignificant words can be the most powerful anyone can hear. This summer, Wisper Internet has sponsored two Honor Flights of military veterans to Washington D.C. to tour memorials to American conflicts, different branches of the armed forces, and other monuments to the founders and defenders of our nation. Last weekend a group of 24 Vietnam veterans and one 91-year-old Korean War veteran from Franklin and surrounding Missouri counties took their Honor Flight to the nation’s capital. Fifty years after their discharges from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, these vets finally received the thank you many of them said they never received when they came home after their tours overseas. As Wisper’s Public Relations and Advocacy Specialist, I was unbelievably lucky to accompany a veteran on this flight and serve as his “guardian” for the whirlwind 36 hours in Washington D.C. We arrived at Lambert Airport at 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning and after a greeting from USO volunteers we made our way through security to our terminal for breakfast. We were on the plane and in the air around 8:30. We exited our plane at Reagan National Airport to cheering travelers in the terminal and a high school band, football team, and cheerleaders lining the hallway from the terminal to the front doors before boarding our charter bus to lunch. At this early point in the trip, the vets and guardians were already forming friendships and the vets were exchanging stories from their experiences in Vietnam, which ranged from being a payroll clerk to flying nukes in a B-52 bomber. While at lunch, I got the first indication that this trip was going to be incredibly special for the vets and the guardians as well. I quickly discovered the vets were eager to share their stories, which in many cases had never had anyone ask to hear them. Even more powerful was hearing the vets talk to each other and connect on their shared experiences both good and bad. After lunch, our group of about 55 people headed to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia. A couple of hours were spent here giving the vets a chance to see aircraft they had flown in while in the service. This was also a fantastic opportunity for guardians to have a chance to get to know our new friends as well. My vet was Rodney Norman, who served in Vietnam as a payroll clerk on a forward base. He lives in South St. Louis County and is retired after operating a residential garage door business for many years. We departed the museum and headed to the Air Force Memorial for dinner and a wonderful view of the Pentagon. After some time at the memorial, our next destination was the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and a quick view of the Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial. The highlight of the evening was our visit to the National Mall to view the nightly illuminations of the World War 2, Vietnam and Korean War, and Lincoln memorials. Finally, the hotel and bed at 10 p.m. for a few hours of rest before a packed Sunday, starting with breakfast at 6:30 a.m. Day two began with a visit to and up into the Washington Monument. At this point in the trip the vets and the guardians were forming friendships and a comfort level with each other, and the times spent in lines and on the bus became filled with laughter, jokes, and some ribbing of the Marine vets by the other branches. Having focused on the Korean War Memorial the previous night, Rodney and I took this opportunity to visit the very somber Vietnam Memorial Wall. While there we located the name of a childhood friend of his who was killed in action which was engraved in its enduring place of honor. We then made out way over to the Lincoln Memorial and found several of the others from our group taking pictures and referencing historic events that had occurred on the steps where we were standing and a few famous movie scenes as well. Although Rodney had visited the sites before, he commented that when you are there it is hard to take it all in, because it seems like you are in a movie or a textbook. We boarded the bus from the Lincon Memorial and made a quick drive past the Capital building to the National Navy Memorial and museum on Pennsylvania Avenue, just a few blocks from the White House. After a private lunch and tour of the Navy Museum, we headed to the Pentagon to view the 9/11 Memorial to the 184 souls who lost their lives at that location during the terrorist attack on our nation 21 years ago. The simple memorial features winged-shaped benches and flowing water beneath each. Fifty-nine benches are situated facing the Pentagon to represent the victims of Flight 77. An additional 125 benches are facing outward from the impact point to honor those who were killed in the Pentagon. In keeping with somber remembrances, our next and probably most poignant stop on the trip for the veterans was a visit to Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. While here, the vets witnessed a changing of the guard ceremony at the tomb and they received a fitting, secret nod from the soldiers of the Old Guard while performing their duties. As the sergeant at arms is entering the tomb area, he drags the toe of his boots (equipped with metal taps) on the ground while walking past the vets as a tribute to their service, an extremely high honor. Despite the gravitas of the ceremony and location, the vets’ spirits were high after being surrounded by their honored servicemembers in a very sacred place to our military and the country. We boarded the bus one last time and after circling the Iwo Jima Memorial honoring the Marine Corps and the raising of the American… Read More
Wisper Pledges $500,000 to Improvements in Fairmont City, IL
What were you doing in 2003? More specifically, do you remember something you bought in 2003? I’m betting, unless you had a major life event (marriage, graduation, children) or made a major purchase like a house or car, the answer to both questions would be…No. Let’s break it down even more. If you answered yes to the question about purchases, do you still have that item or product? And to drill down even deeper, is it still as good as it was (or better) 19 years ago? I may be wrong in assuming (because we all know what that does), but I’ll go out on a limb and say the answers to that last set of questions are also a big…No. In 2003, Wisper Internet was created by Nathan Stooke because his neighbor a couple of miles away needed internet service. This doesn’t sound like such a big deal today when everything we do is connected to the internet. Our entertainment, education, work, and even some refrigerators. Look it up, I’m not sure if I should be excited or terrified. I mean, have you ever seen Transformers? After maxing out credit cards and months of research, wireless internet came out on top as the best option for Nathan’s neighbor, and just a few months later Wisper was born. Also in 2003, as one of Wisper’s first ambitious projects, the community of Fairmont City was equipped with wireless internet, and about half of the households in town have been Wisper customers ever since. In recent weeks, Wisper has doubled down on its commitment to Fairmont City with a $500,000 upgrade and retrofit of equipment on both the broadcast towers and customers’ homes. This also included major work on Wisper infrastructure in St. Louis which serves Fairmont City. Now tell me what other product or service you’ve had for 20 years is going to set you up with all-new, state-of-the-art equipment with no new costs. Not going to happen! Last week I had a great phone conversation with someone who has worked in and with Fairmont City for 20-plus years. She was blunt, frank, and honest about the needs in the community and the pros and cons of Wisper for the people she interacts with every day. As a public relations agent for the company, some of what she said was right in line with what I would want to hear from a community advocate. On the other hand, some of it was quite a gut punch. She was by no means being mean. Instead, she was being real, and to be honest, I am grateful to her. In an industry based on customers and serving them (which Wisper takes very seriously), this type of feedback is good. Any person or company can pat themselves on the back and say how great we are, but who purposely looks in the mirror and comments on their warts? Wisper started with one neighbor who needed internet, and now in 2022 has grown to the top wireless internet service provider in the nation providing service to “20,000 neighbors”. As we continue to grow our network across six states using hundreds of millions of dollars through Connect America Fund, we can not forget our roots and the towns that put us on the map, like Fairmont City. I’ve written before about our love of small towns and I’ve mentioned that Wisper is a company with a soul. Our success in the future depends on not forgetting the past. A customer or community from 2003 is just as important as customers and towns we connect in 2023 and 2033 for that matter. It’s easy to get complacent when things are going well, but it only takes one spark to reignite a fire and help a company, employees, and customers stay focused on the past and the future. As the year progresses the Fairmont City project is just the first of about 40 planned for 2022. Add to that, the launch of as many as 20 new wireless broadband towers each month. The snowball is rolling down the mountain. Wisper and its workforce are growing larger every day. Fairmont City, Wisper is sticking with you, thanks for sticking with us. And we promise…no Transformers. Wisper’s Towers are located at: 2905 N 61st St, Fairmont City, IL 62201, USA 2553 N 44th St, East St Louis, IL 62201, USA… Read More
‘Small Picture’ Internet – Building Everyday Connections
The smell of popcorn, sounds of bouncing balls, happy voices and squeaking sneakers fill your senses as you walk into the high school or elementary school gymnasium. Athletes are warming up on the floor while parents, friends, and everyone else is precariously climbing the Mt. Everest of bleachers to find the “best” (very uncomfortable) seat in the house to watch their student-athletes perform. This same scenario plays out nearly every night in thousands of schools all over the country. Whether the games are on the home court or at the neighboring rival’s school, parents cheer on their kiddos, and win or lose the unwavering support is always there. While I was attending a recent game for my young student-athlete, I was soaking in the sights and sounds of an unfamiliar gym in a town about an hour away from home. As the girls were warming up I exchanged some pleasantries with a few people sitting near me as they moved by to get to their seats. They were all there to support the home team and clearly saw I was wearing my maroon and white instead of their orange and black. As the first match started, a proud mom with a toddler in tow moved into the row in front of me and quickly pulled out her phone to snap some photos of the game. When I noticed she wasn’t putting her phone down right away I realized she was taking a video instead. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who noticed this as her little guy (who clearly wanted to play with the phone) asked what mom was doing. Her response was “I’m streaming this to grandma.” Since I work for Wisper Internet, and I’m obviously a parent, this struck a chord on two levels. First, here we were in a small-town gymnasium, but we were still connected to the entire world. Second, the internet was responsible for allowing grandma to see their kiddo compete without ever leaving their homes. Once I realized the mom was streaming, I did my best to subdue my cheering, (good luck with that) so I didn’t ruin her video. She smiled and said not to worry about it and she understood that was why we were both there in the first place. We all think of the ‘big picture’ internet: work, entertainment, and school, when we think about the importance of the internet and staying connected. For me, this was “small picture” internet and how Wisper Internet has been connecting communities for nearly two decades. On a personal, everyday level, connections online affect us on the most basic of levels without us even realizing it, like a simple chat with grandma. Man, I wish I could still have those, don’t you? What can be more important than family? Imagine, a set of grandparents being able to cheer on their granddaughter through this amazing thing we call the internet from across town, or across the country. It may not seem like a big deal, but staying connected even on the mini-levels is more important than we can imagine. These connections, big and small, are important to Wisper and always will be. We get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and sometimes we forget to stop and smell the popcorn. Wisper cares about small towns because that’s where we live too. Oh, by the way, the maroon and white won!… Read More
Wisper Holds On to Small Town Focus
How many stoplights are in your town? It may be an odd question for many, but for many others living in small towns and rural communities, it’s perfectly normal. Just like “where’d you go to high school”. For me and my village, the answer is one stoplight. It’s red almost every time I approach the intersection on Main Street thanks to the railroad traffic. It’s only been there since the mid-1990s. How did we survive without them? That’s a rhetorical question. We all know John Mellencamp’s 1985 megahit “Small Town” (no Cougar back then. I looked it up). It’s loved by millions of city and country folks all over the world. You’re singing it in your head right now, aren’t you? The melody was catchy, the lyrics memorized and if you in fact grew up in a small town, it seemed like John wrote the song about the street you grew up on. He was singing directly to you and your friends. Heck, you could have been Jack and Diane too. I’m sure city folk would argue, but living in a small town has its advantages, but just like the one stoplight, there are limits to what you can do and how you can do them in the small communities. For most this was not a problem when information (with a large helping of gossip) was disseminated in local newspapers, schools, barber/beauty shops, diners, bar stools, and church pews. Today, the need for information and connection in small rural towns and big cities is bigger than ever and the main source for that information and connection is the internet. Commerce, education, and entertainment have moved from offices and classrooms to kitchen tables and offices in bedrooms. Like most things, the internet is easy to get in the city. Unfortunately, it is a different story in rural communities. Since 2003, Wisper Internet has focused on the small towns and communities of rural America. We care about them because that’s where we live too. Wisper Founder and CEO Nathan Stooke started this homegrown internet journey because his neighbor two miles away needed internet. Six states and 20,000 customers and two decades later, Wisper is focused on turning its internet towers to the outskirts, suburbs, counties, townships, villages, and unincorporated communities who need reliable internet access more today than ever before. We often joke about the blessing and the curse of living in a small town. Everyone knows you and everyone knows your business. The pros and cons have and will be debated for generations, and no real answer will ever be agreed on. As important as the small-town connections of diners, barbers, schools, and churches can be, we need more connections than ever before. We simply cannot function in our daily lives without the internet. And we can no longer say our internet works “most of the time”. Imagine turning on the light switch or faucet and nothing happening. Just like Mellencamp singing about his Seymour, Indiana roots, there are millions of us who were born in small towns, live in small towns, and will probably die and be buried in the same small towns. Personally, I would not want it any other way. Wisper will never forget where we came from, and we cannot forget the people who love us. We are small-town…just like you…. Read More
Wisper Connects Farming Communities with Small Town Service
In the center of many small towns throughout the country stands a grain elevator. Most of us drive by them every day and don’t give them second thoughts. They have just always been there through the heat of summer and the snowflakes of winter. We see the hustle and bustle of workers and farmers. Dust and a roar rising from the machines, tractors, and shovels. We may even get aggravated when we encounter traffic from an old farm truck or an 18-wheeler moving in and out of the bustling lot. For others, the grain elevator is the center of their universe at certain times of the year. It is the reward for countless early mornings, late nights, and going to bed praying for rain. The elevator is the last step on the way to feeding your family for the next few months or purchasing the seeds to plant the next crop to feed your community next season. It is a place farmers visited with their dads and grandpas and now they are taking their kids who are learning the family business. Grain elevators, just like the corner barstool or local church pew, are also communication hubs. A place to stay connected with friends, family, and everyone in between. Stories are told, some true, some questionable, news is spread, information is gained and shared. It is organic and key to local life. If you look to the top of many of these grain elevators, you will see another type of communication that is key to connecting these small communities on a larger scale to the rest of their neighbors, country, and the world. Wisper Internet started in a small community just like millions of Americans live in today. They all look the same to the untrained eye, but they are all unique in their own special ways. One stoplight, a school a bunch of churches, watering holes, a few mom-and-pop stores, and… a grain elevator. Just like farmers, Wisper Internet has been using grain elevators to get our product to market by attaching its wireless broadband internet equipment to what is usually the highest structure in a community, or even an entire county. Since 2003, Wisper has been connecting communities and currently has wireless internet equipment on 63-grain elevators and 176 water towers connecting hundreds of communities across Illinois and Missouri. Little towns many of you have never heard of like Cisne, IL., or Jasper, MO. You may have driven through and barely slowed down, but to the families in those communities, the farms and Wisper Internet are vital to their everyday lives. In the words of Wisper’s founder and CEO Nathan Stooke: “Wisper is an overnight success story 18 years in the making”. That success has come from partnering with small communities and people who know how to take care of their neighbors. Just like the crops that are processed and stored at the grain elevators, Wisper has grown organically and locally from the same hometown roots. They are an invaluable tool for Wisper, just like the farmers. Wisper cares about small towns because that’s where we live too…. Read More
Wisper Offering Special Promotion in Hawk Point
As part of Wisper Internet’s ongoing commitment to Hawk Point, we are offering an end of the year special for new customers from now, into 2022. Any new customers who call in with the promo code “Get Wisper” will receive one month of free service to their fixed wireless plans. For every new customer sign-up, Wisper will make a $20 donation to a local Hawk Point charity. “At Wisper we feel internet service is vital to every home just like water, electricity, and other utilities,” Wisper founder and CEO Nathan Stooke said. “Unlike water and power, residents have a choice which company they trust to provide their internet service. This expansion highlights Wisper’s ongoing commitment to improving the lives of residents in rural areas and small towns across the Midwest.” Wisper has been serving Hawk Point since 2017 and this special promotion is for residents living, near the Hawk Point water tower on McCarty Lane. Customers receive their signal into a small dish located on the outside of their home, which then transmits their signal to their router, where they can it on all their favorite devices! Wisper has partnered with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for their Lifeline Program, as well as the Emergency Broadband Benefits Program (EBB). The Lifeline program offers discounted services for low-income households. If you believe you are eligible for the Lifeline Program and would like to apply, please visit www.lifelinesupport.org. The EBB Program offers households affected by the pandemic monthly service discounts up to $50, as well as credit for the purchase of eligible devices. To apply for the benefit, visit getemergencybroadband.org. If approved, please contact Wisper, and provide your EBB approval letter. Wisper Internet coverage is based on a 6-to-eight-mile radius from our towers. Pictured above is the Wisper tower location in the lower right portion of the photo. For more information on these exciting savings opportunities, or to determine service eligibility, contact the Wisper Sales Team at (800) 765-7772 or sales@wisperisp.com. Wisper ISP, LLC, based in Mascoutah, Ill., is a wireless internet service provider with just under 200 employees and 20,000 subscribers across Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma…. Read More
Wisper Offering Special Promotion in Herrin
As part of Wisper Internet’s ongoing commitment to Herrin, we are offering an end-of-the-year special for new customers from now, into 2022. Any new customers who call in with the promo code “Get Wisper” will receive one month of free service to their fixed wireless plans. For every new customer sign-up, Wisper will make a $20 donation to a local Herrin charity. “At Wisper we feel internet service is vital to every home just like water, electricity, and other utilities,” Wisper founder and CEO Nathan Stooke said. “Unlike water and power, residents have a choice which company they trust to provide their internet service. This expansion highlights Wisper’s ongoing commitment to improving the lives of residents in rural areas and small towns across the Midwest.” Wisper has served the Herrin community since 2013, and this special promotion is for residents living near the water tower on Brewster Road. Customers receive their signal into a small dish located on the outside of their home, which then transmits their signal to their router, where they can it on all their favorite devices! Wisper has partnered with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for their Lifeline Program, as well as the Emergency Broadband Benefits Program (EBB). The Lifeline program offers discounted services for low-income households. If you believe you are eligible for the Lifeline Program and would like to apply, please visit www.lifelinesupport.org. The EBB Program offers households affected by the pandemic monthly service discounts up to $50, as well as credit for the purchase of eligible devices. To apply for the benefit, visit getemergencybroadband.org. If approved, please contact Wisper, and provide your EBB approval letter. Wisper Internet coverage is based on a 6-to-eight-mile radius from our towers. Pictured above is the Wisper tower location in the lower left-hand corner of the photo. For more information on these exciting savings opportunities, or to determine service eligibility, contact the Wisper Sales Team at (800) 765-7772 or sales@wisperisp.com. Wisper ISP, LLC, based in Mascoutah, Ill., is a wireless internet service provider with just under 200 employees and 20,000 subscribers across Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma…. Read More
Wisper Offering Special Promotion in Hoyleton
As part of Wisper Internet’s ongoing commitment to Hoyleton, we are offering an end-of-the-year special for new customers from now, into 2022. Any new customers who call in with the promo code “Get Wisper” will receive one month of free service to their fixed wireless plans. For every new customer sign-up, Wisper will make a $20 donation to a local Hoyleton charity. “At Wisper we feel internet service is vital to every home just like water, electricity, and other utilities,” Wisper founder and CEO Nathan Stooke said. “Unlike water and power, residents have a choice which company they trust to provide their internet service. This expansion highlights Wisper’s ongoing commitment to improving the lives of residents in rural areas and small towns across the Midwest.” Wisper has served Hoyleton for 18 years and this special promotion is for residents living near the water tower at East Oak and North Park Streets. Customers receive their signal into a small dish located on the outside of their home, which then transmits their signal to their router, where they can it on all their favorite devices! Wisper has partnered with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for their Lifeline Program, as well as the Emergency Broadband Benefits Program (EBB). The Lifeline program offers discounted services for low-income households. If you believe you are eligible for the Lifeline Program and would like to apply, please visit www.lifelinesupport.org. The EBB Program offers households affected by the pandemic monthly service discounts up to $50, as well as credit for the purchase of eligible devices. To apply for the benefit, visit getemergencybroadband.org. If approved, please contact Wisper, and provide your EBB approval letter. Wisper Internet coverage is based on a 6-to-eight-mile radius from our towers. Pictured above is the Wisper tower location in the center of the photo. For more information on these exciting savings opportunities or to determine service eligibility, contact the Wisper Sales Team at (800) 765-7772 or sales@wisperisp.com. Wisper ISP, LLC, based in Mascoutah, Ill., is a wireless internet service provider with just under 200 employees and 20,000 subscribers across Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma…. Read More
Wisper Offering Special Promotion for Venedy
As part of Wisper Internet’s ongoing commitment to Venedy, we are offering an end of the year special for new customers from now, into 2022. Any new customers who call in with the promo code “Get Wisper” will receive one month of free service to their fixed wireless plans. For every new customer sign-up, Wisper will make a $20 donation to a local Venedy charity. “At Wisper we feel internet service is vital to every home just like water, electricity, and other utilities,” Wisper founder and CEO Nathan Stooke said. “Unlike water and power, residents have a choice which company they trust to provide their internet service. This expansion highlights Wisper’s ongoing commitment to improving the lives of residents in rural areas and small towns across the Midwest.” Wisper has served Venedy for 18 years and this special promotion is for residents living near the grain bin on the Gateway FS property (18 N. Mill Road). Customers receive their signal into a small dish located on the outside of their home, which then transmits their signal to their router, where they can it on all their favorite devices! Wisper has partnered with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for their Lifeline Program, as well as the Emergency Broadband Benefits Program (EBB). The Lifeline program offers discounted services for low-income households. If you believe you are eligible for the Lifeline Program and would like to apply, please visit www.lifelinesupport.org. The EBB Program offers households affected by the pandemic monthly service discounts up to $50, as well as credit for the purchase of eligible devices. To apply for the benefit, visit getemergencybroadband.org. If approved, please contact Wisper, and provide your EBB approval letter. Wisper Internet coverage is based on a 6-to-eight-mile radius from our towers. Pictured above is the Wisper tower location in the right-center portion of the photo. For more information on these exciting savings opportunities, or to determine service eligibility, contact the Wisper Sales Team at (800) 765-7772 or sales@wisperisp.com. Wisper ISP, LLC, based in Mascoutah, Ill., is a wireless internet service provider with just under 200 employees and 20,000 subscribers across Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma…. Read More
Wisper Celebrates 4-H Week
A key component to providing reliable internet service to rural communities is supporting groups, clubs, and organizations in those communities. For many years, Wisper has partnered with schools and especially 4-H clubs to provide services that facilitate and improve educational atmospheres whether it be in a classroom, in a field or barn. Chartered in 1933, New Ideal 4-H Club based in Mascoutah is one of the oldest clubs in St. Clair County, Ill., and has been active each year since. The club consists of members from ages eight to 18 and membership ranges from 15 to 30 members. The Cloverbud program consists of children ages five to seven. Carol Seibert has been involved with the New Deal club for more than 30 years and has seen many changes over the past three decades. “Unlike when 4-H began the girls entered sewing and cooking projects and boys entered livestock and crop projects, 4-H now offers over 60 different choices of projects,” Siebert explained. “Each member selects several projects of interest and studies these items during the current year including a project that they will be able to show at the end of 4-H year show.” Siebert added last year with the Covid-19 restrictions reliable internet was essential to keeping the clubs connected. “Most of the clubs held their monthly meetings by Zoom,” Siebert said. “County information, as well as club information, is sent via email – no more waiting for the mail to come or having to call each family. Facebook is also being used as an information center.” Siebert added project information not readily available thru the office or at home is easily provided by the internet for show projects and demonstrations. Last year’s livestock and Show-A-Rama were canceled for the first time ever in person. The show did go on via the internet. New Ideal 4-H Club meets monthly on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00 in the basement of St. John UCC Church, Mascoutah. Everyone is invited to attend. Wisper Internet understands the integration of connectivity and technology into modern-day agriculture is increasing at a fast pace and shows no signs of slowing down. “As a company committed to connecting rural communities, Wisper understands the importance and supports rural education,” Wisper Founder and CEO Nathan Stooke said. ” Today’s members of 4-H clubs represent tomorrow’s farmers, ranchers, and producers we rely on daily. Reliable internet and easy access to technology in the 4-H club or on their family farms help lay the strong foundations for their futures.” As Wisper has spread over five states serving 20,000 customers our responsibility and dedication to enriching the lives of the future agriculture leaders has expanded as well. During this national 4-H week Wisper salutes the families who work hard every day to bring us food, textiles, and products to sustain life in more ways than we can count. Just like the young women and men in 4-H clubs across the country, Wisper is a tribe of humbly confident life-long learners, driving to solutions and continuously committing to serve one another in the relentless pursuit of a better and better customer experience…. Read More
Wisper Serving Those Who Serve Others During Fire Prevention Week
The days of horse-drawn pumpers, buckets, and dalmatians have given way to handheld devices, drones, and instant information. When you think of firefighters, you may not always think of the internet, but the evolving natures of both the fire service and connectivity are merging on the frontlines of public safety. In conjunction with the annual celebration of Fire Prevention Week (October 3-9), Wisper Internet spoke with the chief of a fire department at the crossroads of tradition and progress to talk about how reliable internet plays a role every time they are called to respond. Washington, MO., fire chief Tim Frankenberg says many of the tools he and his firefighters are equipped with would be useless without reliable internet. “Strong internet access is becoming crucial,” Frankenberg explained. “A lot of information we use is cloud-based and everything is going mobile. I can sit anywhere I have internet and have instant access to the data I need.” For many years Wisper has partnered with the Washington Volunteer Fire Department to provide reliable service to assure not only the right people get to an emergency, but also the right information. Thus far in 2021, the 90 members of the company have received up to 750 calls for service responding from one of half a dozen fire stations spread strategically throughout their city and rural response areas. One of the tools the chief and his firefighters employ is an app on their phone which shows which personnel is responding to an emergency, from where and it also includes maps on how best to get resources to a scene. Frankenberg added the department is currently in the process of equipping all apparatus with mobile devices. “We are evaluating what types of are the best path for us,” Frankenberg said. “Once installed the devices will put maps, building construction, occupancies, emergency preplans, and even the location of fire hydrants at our fingertips.” Recently the department has added the use of a drone to some of its emergency responses, which is able to send real-time photos to incident commanders at the scene of an incident or to an emergency operation center out of harm’s way. The partnership with these brave volunteers is just one of the many commitments Wisper has made to the communities we serve. This week we honor those who put others first and risk their lives to keep their communities safe. Wisper founder and CEO Nathan Stooke explained Wisper follows many of the same principles as those who serve in the fire service. “Wisper is a tribe of humbly confident life-long learners, driving to solution and continuously committing to serve one another in the relentless pursuit of a better and better customer experience,” Stooke said. “Thank you all for your service.” Wisper ISP, LLC, based in Mascoutah, Ill., is a wireless internet service provider with more than 200 employees and 20,000 subscribers across Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. For more information about Wisper Internet packages, or to determine service eligibility, contact the Wisper Sales Team at (800) 765-7772 or sales@wisperisp.com…. Read More
Wisper Helps Keep Small Business Connected During Pandemic
In 2020, roughly 50% of Americans were working from home, and while some of us have to worry about checking our email and attending the weekly conference call, others have adapted to fully running their small business from their homes. Whether that’s shipping orders, answering customer inquiries, or in this case, hosting virtual music lessons. Stephanie Frosch started offering private music lessons back in high school when her music teacher suggested she take on her own students. Her business took off, and she’s been teaching classes ever since. Stephanie teaches primarily woodwind instruments, but her students also learn fundamental music techniques, music history, and music theory. They also start with some basics, like how to properly take care of your instrument. Beyond the musical element of lessons, Stephanie teaches her students how to deal with performance anxiety and how to nail an audition. While she started out with in-person lessons five days a week, Stephanie has expanded her offerings to include video lessons streamed from her home studio. As a private music teacher, Stephanie strives to give the best learning experience she can to each student. And with video lessons on the rise, a strong internet connection helps her keep in touch with her students. Even during her in-person lessons, Stephanie uses her wifi to research new pieces for her students, purchase teaching materials, and use YouTube to recommend recordings for students to watch. She also has a Google Classroom where she shares documents and information with her students. Once her students graduate, the internet helps Stephanie stay in contact with them through email and Facebook. Wisper’s goal is to bridge the gap in rural America with fast internet. In other words, we help you connect and create opportunities in your community. That’s exactly how we’re helping Stephanie create opportunities for her students. We started out as a small business, and we want to help others grow their small businesses from anywhere, even from home. Stephanie didn’t choose Wisper for her internet. You could say that we chose her, as we acquired the company that had been providing her service, and according to Stephanie, she stayed with us for the excellent customer service and tower upgrades that improved the signal and made working from home much easier. For our rural customers, finding a reliable internet company that doesn’t break the bank and provides a reliable connection can be tough. Standard cable internet companies generally aren’t available outside major metro areas, and some rural internet companies charge frighteningly expensive installation and equipment fees. For our Wisper customers, as long as you are within line of sight of one of our towers, all you need to begin receiving fixed wireless internet is a receiver. To a prospective Wisper business or home customer, Stephanie says she would recommend us! “I’ve had no serious issues with internet connection and speed. Yes, occasionally there will be outages due to unforeseen circumstances. But typically it is not down for long and the customer service line has always been very helpful,” she says. She also takes advantage of our social media pages to keep up to date on any outages, repairs, and promotions. When working from home, it’s important to have reliable internet, but if you live beyond the reach of typical internet providers, finding an internet provider can be tough. Wisper can help you stay connected without sacrificing quality or price, so you can continue to run your business from home, even after we all return to the office. Interested in private music lessons for your child? Stephanie works with students ages 10 and up. You can contact her at stephaniefrosch34@gmail.com. Interested in-home or business internet? Contact us at WisperISP.com…. Read More
Wisper Celebrates International Women’s Day
In case you missed it, March 8th was International Women’s Day! This year’s theme for Women’s Day is #ChooseToChallenge, focusing on challenging the stereotypes people have about women, especially at work. We sat down with a couple of the ladies on our Wisper Sales and Marketing team to get their perspective on being a woman in the tech industry. For Shannon Shores, VP of Sales and Marketing at Wisper, this isn’t her first experience in a tech-based company. Shores founded Wellex, Inc, a patient-centric national provider of confidential health screenings in 2015. “In my very first position out of college, I had a female CEO, and I remember going up to her and saying, ‘Tell me how you became CEO’,” Shores says. “And her answer has been a guiding light for me, and that was to never say no to an opportunity. With that in mind, I continued to learn new skills and take those on as tools to grow in business.” Wellex, Inc. was listed in the Top 50 Fastest-Growing Companies by Small Business Monthly and St. Louis Business Journal and named to the Inc 5000 listing of fastest-growing companies. Shores herself was named Top Business Woman in 2019 by St. Louis Small Business Monthly and Enterprising Women Magazine. We also talked with the Social Media Coordinator, Susie Steffes. Steffes has also worked in the tech field prior to Wisper, and she enjoys the opportunities to learn new skills and processes in the tech industry. “There’s always something new to learn in technology,” she says. “Just be sure to ask questions! Don’t let the technical jargon intimidate you.” In 2020, women made up only 19% of entry and mid-level roles in the tech industry and only 16% of senior-level positions. There are a number of reasons to explain why this number is still so low, from girls being less likely to take STEM classes in school to a lack of female role models in the industry. To women and girls looking to get started in technology, or any other traditionally male-dominated field, Shores and Steffes have some good advice. “Don’t let it scare you,” Steffes says. “If it’s something that you’re interested in, don’t be afraid to be really good at it.” “As women, we have so much power to learn and to make sure that we can be who we want to be,” Shores says. “And what we have to remember is that we have the answers, we have the power. Don’t let someone write the script for you.” We often hear about the disadvantages of being a woman in a business environment, but we wanted to look at some possible advantages. “Especially as Wisper, being on a female-dominated team, I think we get the opportunity to be creative and expressive in a way that helps move the company forward,” Steffes says. “We also get to challenge the norm and the stereotypes that people have in our industry.” “I don’t think we have many advantages for being a woman in business, in fact, it’s often the opposite,” says Shores. “You might have someone tell you that you’re being emotional, or not take you seriously because you’re a woman. My advantage is in my confidence, and my ability to look for the next step in a situation because I had to adapt to those criticisms.” International Women’s Day might be over, but with March being Women’s History Month, Ladies, be proud of yourselves! Continue choosing to challenge those stereotypes and we can’t wait to see what you do. Watch our full International Women’s Day interview on YouTube!… Read More
Wisper Keeps Farmers Connected, Supports Rural Communities
A key takeaway from the COVID-19 Pandemic is the prevalence of technology in today’s workforce and education system. Because of the important role technology plays, rural Americans are facing a crisis known as the digital divide. Without access to reliable, high-speed Internet like their urban counterparts, residents of rural communities have fewer opportunities available to them, putting them at an economic disadvantage. This includes America’s farmers. At the end of the day, farmers are running a business and access to a reliable, high-speed Internet connection allows them to operate more efficiently. You may be thinking to yourself, “Don’t farmers spend all day outside in a field? How would they use the Internet?” The Internet allows farmers to use more innovative technology, which provides them with the capability to better track supplies, equipment, incoming weather and much more. Stevie Scates of Scates Valley Irrigation in Carmi, IL, has been a customer of Wisper Internet since fall of last year. When asked about his service, Stevie said, “I use Wisper Internet for my irrigation business, but I also have cousins up the road in New Haven that use it to monitor our grain bin remotely. I’ve tried several types of Internet service, from satellite to dish to hot spots. Wisper is more reliable and faster than any of those options. I can actually run Zoom meetings now to meet with customers! It also helps us send aerial map photographs, order equipment, and communicate with our accountant. It has helped improve the overall efficiency of my business, so we can better serve our farmers.” “Farmers are America’s backbone,” said Wisper CEO and Founder, Nathan Stooke. “Wisper Internet is proud to be helping America’s farmers and the businesses that serve them.” The entrepreneurship journey is different for everyone who chooses it, but most are faced with an encompassing (overwhelming) ‘on the clock 24/7’ experience. Entrepreneurs in rural communities face an even tougher challenge; figuring out how to operate in a world made for reliable, high-speed Internet. Terry Wassam is the owner of Wassam Farm and Fence in Sedalia, MO. Wassam Farm and Fence is a Ma & Pa Brick and Mortar Store offering an array of agricultural supplies as well as custom welding work. Terry recounts his frustration when he started the business 7 years ago, “The only option available to us was a landline phone. Every time we had to run a credit card, it would tie up the line and take forever to process.” Terry’s business changed dramatically when he found Easy Net Wireless, now Wisper Internet 3 years ago. “It was a game changer. Most, if not all of our business involves the Internet. A reliable, high-speed Internet connection is very important for rural businesses like mine.” Since these businesses don’t market themselves as ‘cash only, they can’t fault their customers for an issue with their own operating system. Consequently, many times businesses just have to eat the cost. In business, every sale counts and they can’t afford to be losing revenue. Michael Rice is a farmer in Green Ridge, MO and a Wisper Internet Customer. When asked how he uses his reliable, high-speed Internet connection through Wisper at his farm, Michael said, “I mostly use it for my Ring Security System. It sends a notification to my phone if someone pulls up or walks through the door while I’m out in the field. I also use it for looking up parts and equipment. Due to Wisper’s high-speeds, I am able to search for anything, from tractors to semis to hopper bottoms and more with ease. I’ve been known to find a deal or two on Facebook Marketplace.” Wisper ISP, LLC is a Wireless Internet Service Provider with 180 employees and 20,000 subscribers across Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Wisper is based out of Mascoutah, IL, in the St. Louis Metro Area, with regional offices in Joplin and Washington, MO. Wisper customers in rural and metropolitan communities receive fast, reliable service and friendly, helpful customer service…. Read More
Keeping Your Family Safe Online: “Together for a Better Internet”
For those of us who grew up with the internet, or have at least had several years of experience with it in our personal and professional lives, we can sometimes take internet safety for granted: don’t talk to strangers, don’t post your address or your personal information, double-check a website before you place an order. We do these things automatically, but if we want to make the internet a safer place for everyone, we have to pass these tips on to our children, parents, friends, and family. On that note, today is Safer Internet Day! The theme for this year’s event is “Together for a better Internet” and being an internet provider we know this is so important, especially for kids and older adults. We want to share some of our favorite safety tips, for kids and adults online. Use Parental Controls – We’ve talked about this a few times, but it’s so important to make sure you know what your kids have access to online. You can usually set up content filters on your devices with apps or with your internet browser, or if you have the Wisper Home app, you can set content filters and restrictions there as well, and keep an eye on what they’re trying to see. Set Family Rules – Setting family rules for internet use is another good one for kids and teens. Explain to them why those rules are there and help them if they have questions so they understand. And make sure they know to tell you if they see anything they aren’t sure about. Limit Personal Information Online – This one is hard these days with social media, but we really do need to be careful what information we’re posting about ourselves. In general, be careful not to put your phone number, address, or your personal email on your profiles. It can even be helpful to keep your school or employer’s information off of social media. Stay on Secure sites – One tip that you might not know is how to find out if a site is ‘secure’ before you buy something or enter your information. If you look up in your browser window, right in front of the web address there should be a little lock. If there’s not a lock there or there’s a warning icon instead, it’s best to leave that site right away. Keep Your Antivirus Updated – Antivirus is another big one that we’ve touched on before, but it’s worth saying again. A good antivirus will keep your devices and your information protected even if you do end up on a not-so-safe site. We do also have antivirus included in the Wisper Home App! Guest Networks and VPN – A virtual private network helps protect your information online by hiding things like your name and location. If you have our Wisper Home App, we’ve talked about the guest network feature, where you can set up a separate network for your guests to use that keeps threats away from your personal network and your devices. Some of these may sound pretty simple to someone who spends a lot of time online, but for kids who are just learning, or even for parents and grandparents who haven’t grown up with internet access, it’s important to share these tips to help keep your loved ones safe online. At Wisper, we’re working to make the internet a safer place for everyone by providing our customers with the tools to protect themselves online, but we also want to help educate everyone in our communities on how to navigate the internet carefully and use it to the highest potential. We have a number of resources available on our website and on our social media accounts, and we’re happy to answer any questions you may have about our Wisper Home app, our wireless service, and the internet in general. If you’d like more resources on Safer Internet Day, you can go to their (secure!) website, SaferInternetDay.org. So keep these tips in mind this week, and let us know some of your favorite safer internet tips!… Read More
Wisper Internet Thanks Essential Healthcare Workers at Local Hospitals
Belleville, IL (January 13, 2021) – Wisper ISP, Inc. donates goodies, such as candy, energy bars, crackers, ear savers, and more to thank the essential healthcare workers at Memorial Hospital Belleville. As the second wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic took hold on America, Wisper decided to take action by thanking those at the frontlines in the communities they serve. When asked about the donation, Memorial Hospital’s Director of Communications and Marketing, Anne Thomure stated, “Memorial’s team is extremely grateful for the support, donations, and love from our community. We thank Wisper for remembering our team with their donation.” Wisper ISP, Inc. also dropped off donations to the Pharmacy Department at HSHS St. Elizabeth Hospital in O’Fallon, IL. When asked about the donation, HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital’s Director of Pharmacy, Julia Schimmelpfennig stated: “During these very busy times, my team truly appreciates supporters like those at Wisper Internet! The snacks and words of encouragement and appreciation mean so much. Thank you, Wisper, for showing that you care.” The hospital would like to remind the community that you can further support their colleagues as the pandemic is not over. Everyone must do their part to help flatten the curve by continuing to be diligent with hand washing, social distancing, avoiding large gatherings and family or friend get-togethers, masking, and staying home when we are ill. Wisper Internet realizes they have been fortunate during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The demand for reliable, high-speed Internet service has boomed since the lockdowns began in March 2019. Many Americans have been working from home or learning from home to prevent the spread of the virus. Both tasks are nearly impossible to achieve in today’s age of technology without a reliable, high-speed Internet connection. Wisper has been an Internet provider in O’Fallon and Belleville, IL since 2003, the year Wisper was founded. Their fixed wireless technology is on nine elevated structures throughout O’Fallon. Fixed Wireless Technology uses elevated structures, such as water towers, cell towers, grain elevators, etc. to reach a resident’s home. Current capabilities do require the equipment on a resident’s roof to have a ‘line of sight’ to the elevated structure. That means no trees or terrain can be blocking the visual path. A resident will reside no more than 3-5 miles from the elevated structure to receive the desired signal strength. Wisper Internet realizes they have been fortunate during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The demand for reliable, high-speed Internet service has boomed since the lockdowns began in March 2019. Many Americans have been working from home or learning from home to prevent the spread of the virus. Both tasks are nearly impossible to achieve in today’s age of technology without a reliable, high-speed Internet connection. We look forward to making more donations to our community in the future!… Read More