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Building Connections with Wake Electric

"It's all about building connections," said Matt Vernon, director of marketing and communications at Wake Electric Membership Corporation.

By "building connections," Vernon didn't mean providing broadband Internet access using 802.11b standards in the Raliegh/Durham area of North Carolina where Wake is located—although that's exactly what the cooperative is doing.

He meant providing several quality services to the utility's subscribers that would increase each subscriber's loyalty to the cooperative.

But that's not the only reason Wake is bringing broadband to the area. In fact, Wake looked to NRTC's wireless broadband solution to save the cooperative money. By deploying Wi–Fi, Wake will eliminate many of the cooperative's T–connections and reduce their costs.

Providing high–speed Internet access is an added benefit.

Fast Track to Knowledge

At the beginning of 2002, Matt Vernon didn't know much about 802.11b or deploying high–speed Internet using license–free spread spectrum. So, this March, he attended training on the subject, which TrueBand Internet Services hosted. The presenter was Michael Young, president and CEO of Young Design, Inc. (YDI).

"Young is an excellent presenter. He's engaging, experienced, and knows what he's talking about. He would make a great college professor. Still, it's a lot to absorb," said Vernon of the intensive, one–day training.

To supplement his knowledge, Vernon attended two national workshops on 802.11b. But, in June, he came back to NRTC and the training from Young. Vernon did so because he valued Young's expertise and that the YDI CEO is not giving a hard sell.

Vernon says, "That's worth a heck of a lot. I depend on NRTC to guide me because the telecommunications landscape changes continually. TrueBand Internet Services did the research on 802.11b and found the right partner. I put confidence in them. All cooperatives are looking for ways to drive down costs and still get quality. When I returned for the training in June, I noticed that the booklet [that accompanies the training] was larger. It let me know that YDI is keeping pace with the changes in the technology."

Wake Brings in the Experts for a Site Survey

Through the training, Vernon learned that small cells would be the best deployment method for the geography in Wake's service territory. Using small cells will limit the number of areas the ISP cannot serve and will reduce the risk of interference.

YDI has partners all over the country who have experience in doing site surveys. During the site survey for Wake Electric, the YDI representative, Vernon, and Andrew Crear, TrueBand project engineer, looked at topographical maps of the proposed service areas. Then, the trio drove to the areas to see obstacles not represented on the maps.

One of the biggest obstacles to deployment for Wake was trees. Before the end of the day, Matt Vernon had an estimate of the kind of equipment needed to create an 802.11b solution that would work.

Continuing the Cooperating Legacy

Connection is the legacy of the cooperative movement, according to Vernon. Some 60 years ago, Wake's electric cooperative predecessors brought electricity to rural areas, providing a service when no one else would. Rural telephone cooperatives share a similar history.

Vernon sees providing broadband Internet access in the same light (pun intended!). Using NRTC's wireless Internet solution, rural utilities can provide broadband Internet access where investor–owned companies will not.

"Over time, Vernon mused, "[broadband, like electricity and telephone service] has the potential to really affect the quality of life. I know I can't do without it."

Call NRTC at 800–995–5592 to learn whether a Wi–Fi solution is right for your ISP business.