Headquartered in Southern Illinois, Wisper ISP, Inc. provides high-speed reliable internet to residents in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma (Arkansas will be added to their coverage area soon). Wisper is a rising competitor in the Wireless Internet Industry, as they were the second-largest winner in the FCC’s rural broadband auction, the Connect America Fund II (CAF II). With funds totaling $220.3 million, Wisper is expanding its efforts to become the leading Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP). What is the Connect America Fund Phase II (CAF II)? The Connect America Fund II, or CAF II, is the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) “program to expand access to voice and broadband services for areas where they are unavailable.” The FCC states the funding will “subsidize the cost of building new network infrastructure or performing network upgrades.” Recipients of CAF II funding must follow requirements for speed, latency, usage allowance, and pricing to ensure service is of a predetermined quality standard and affordability. The requirement specifics, according to the FCC’s CAF II FAQs page, are as follows: Speed: Service providers must offer broadband at speeds of at least 10 megabits per second (Mbps) downstream and 1 Mbps upstream. Latency: Service providers’ network latency cannot be higher than 100 milliseconds round trip. Latency is the time it takes for a data packet to travel back and forth through a network. Usage Allowance: Service providers must offer at least one plan with a minimum usage allowance of at least 150 gigabytes (GB) per month or a monthly usage allowance that reflects the average usage of a majority of fixed broadband customers as announced by the Wireline Competition Bureau annually, whichever is higher. Alternatively, service providers have the option of offering a usage allowance that is at or above the usage level for 80 percent of their broadband subscribers if it is at least 100 GB. Pricing: Service providers must offer service at rates reasonably comparable to rates in urban areas. In addition to these predetermined standards, recipients are required to provide internet to their allotted areas within a six-year timeframe, while receiving funding over a span of ten years. Are you included in the CAF II build-out? The CAF II Map shows the build-out areas. Please contact Wisper’s Public Relations and Advocacy Specialist, Alison Tupiri, if you have questions on how to read the map. Wisper’s plan is to build out to more than the areas required by CAF II; however, the team cannot promise at this point in time that they will be able to service your exact location. How can you stay informed? Wisper received its first round of CAF II funding at the end of February 2020. Subscribe to Wisper’s CAF II Newsletter, The Connection, to stay up-to-date on the latest developments. Are you in a CAF II build-out area? Help us, help you. Do you have access to fiber? Or do you have access to a tall structure, such as a grain silo, grain elevator, water tower, etc.? Wisper would like to work with YOU and bring reliable, high-speed internet to your area. Provide your name, address, phone number, email address, and a description of your resource(s) to Alison Tupiri…. Read More

To be the most efficient and successful version of itself, Wisper Internet has adopted the EOS Model. The EOS Model outlines the idea that there are six key components to every business, no matter the size or industry. The six components are vision, data, process, traction, issues, and people. The model then continues to say that if businesses continuously work to strengthen these six components, they will achieve success. Don’t worry. The model doesn’t stop there. It provides insight on the necessary roles and steps to strengthen these six components. Let’s start with the basics, the leadership team. A successful business is much more difficult to build, if not impossible to build, without a strong leadership team. One of the fundamental leadership roles named by the EOS Model is that of Integrator. The EOS Model defines Integrator as “the person who is the tie-breaker for the leadership team, is the glue for the organization, holds everything together, beats the drum (provides cadence), is accountable for the P&L results, executes the business plan, holds the Leadership Team accountable, and is the steady force in the organization.” Sound like an important role? It is. We knew choosing a person for the role of Integrator wasn’t going to be a light-hearted decision. After much time and consideration, we choose Ginny Wood to serve as Integrator, or Chief Operations Officer (COO), as we refer to her. The addition of the role allows Wisper Founder and CEO, Nathan Stooke to hone into his strengths and be a true visionary by relinquishing his Integrator responsibilities. Ginny is an entrepreneurial COO, EOS Integrator, and general manager experienced in building and growing businesses ranging from start-ups to $2 Billion in annual revenue. It’s no surprise that she thrives in rough waters. Even though she serves in a high-level role, she is equally comfortable collaborating with peers, leading or managing, being accountable for the P&L or systematically attacking a company’s toughest operational challenges. It’s safe to say that you can call her a Jill of all trades. To help us get to know her better, we asked Ginny a few questions. Here are 10 Valuable Things To Spotlight About Our COO. 1. What was it like growing up? Although I was born in Iowa City, IA, and spent some early years in San Diego, most of my formative years were in Lincoln, Nebraska. I’m blessed to be flanked by an older sister and younger brother who are each a neighbor of mine now. My parents both drove and inspired my growth and continue to model a good life. 2. What’s your morning routine? I fill my proverbial cup before 8 am. After 8 hours of sleep, I make strong coffee in a mocha pot and meditate for 20 minutes or so. Depending on the time zone I’m in, I’ll either start working right away or get a cardio workout in. 3. What’s your educational background? I have an undergrad Business degree + 36 hours of Japanese language study + M.B.A., Finance + Full-stack software development boot camp (5-months) in San Francisco. 4. What’s your career journey? My past P&L responsibility includes five businesses — one grown from nothing to a $1.8M run-rate in 8 months and one where I served as President driving $14M in sales and an expanded 45% net margin. For fun, I took a career break to attend the premier full-stack development school, Dev Bootcamp in San Francisco, where I graduated in the top third of my class. 5. Do you have professional goals? Learn, grow, improve. 6. What are your work habits? Block the time to get the most important things done. Take time to listen and serve the people on my team. Plan a week in advance + review tomorrow tonight. Focus on my health so I am present in my work. 7. What are your hobbies? Family, wonderful friends, running, swimming, biking, yoga, reading, avocados, playing outside, a good night’s sleep, and a love of learning new things every day makes me feel like the richest person on the planet. 8. Tell us about your family! I’m Mother of 3 adult children, a sister, and a daughter. I’m a member of a kind, funny, and loving family. 9. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Take the time to know yourself. Knowing who you are allows you to live your life with purpose and meaning. 10. How do you find balance? Balance is a daily dose of good sleep, exercise, healthy food, good work, and love…. Read More