Dateline: January 30, 2003

Wireless Internet arrives in Hedley

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Busy signals and painfully slow connections can now be a thing of the past for computer users in and around Hedley. High-speed, wireless Internet has finally arrived.

Thanks to the Donley County Community Network (DCCN) and AMA•TechTel Communications, a new transmitter has been installed on the KLSR tower northeast of Hedley, which expands the availability the southeastern part of the county.

The DCCN acquired a $250,000 TIF grant last summer, which funded new computers for several local entities as well as assisting AMA•TechTel in bringing Internet services to rural residents. In return, AMA•TechTel has contributed financially to the project and donated the expertise and services of its employees in providing Web designs and wireless networking for the DCCN.

The company, formerly known as AMA Wireless, has been servicing customers in Donley County since January of last year, but it has been limited to a ten-mile radius of Clarendon. Now, the transmitter near Hedley, along with a new tower on the south side of Greenbelt Lake, has expanded wireless service to previously hard to reach places in northern and southeastern parts of the county.

“We’re extremely excited about serving all the residents of Donley County and look forward to continuing to assist Donley County in spanning the digital divide,” said Douglas Campbell, Chief Operations Officer of AMA•TechTel.

The wireless service boasts download speeds up to 50 times faster than ordinary phone lines and operates from a microwave signal beamed continuously by towers, then directly into the home or office. A small antenna is mounted outside the home or office. The signal is then carried to a subscriber’s computer via coaxial cable, a wireless modem, and a CAT 5 computer cable.

The system does not require a phone line, meaning customers can save money by eliminating their second phone line or can free up their existing line.

With the wireless service, files download faster, Web pages pull up faster, and productivity is increased.

AMA•TechTel’s service costs as little as $44.95 per month for residential customers and $59.90 per month for businesses. Installation fees vary from nothing for residential customers who will sign up for three years to $150. Customers will also need a network card installed in their computer, and those can be purchased separately or from AMA•TechTel.

“This service is a great benefit to people engaged in e-commerce and businesses that communicate via e-mail as well as casual surfers,” said local AMA•TechTel agent and newspaper publisher Roger Estlack. “It is an asset to Donley County to have this service available when trying to attract new residents and businesses.

“If you’re frustrated by busy signals, poor connections, and no connections when trying to get online, then wireless Internet is what you need,” Estlack said.

Internet users can sign up for the wireless service at The Clarendon Enterprise. To see the service in action, interested computer users can visit the Enterprise or the Burton Memorial Library.