The cost of connectivity

Alexis Barker
NLJ Reporter
 
In an effort to be more visible to the public and to raise awareness that it is a Wyoming company serving Wyoming people, on Feb. 19, RT Communications provided the Weston County commissioners with information about its activities and investments in the county. 
According to Linda Weeks, marketing and sales supervisor for RT, the company is invested in the local community and likes to consider itself a part of the community. The company not only supports local events and organizations but is also committed to upgrading the community to allow for high-speed internet to be accessed by nearly everyone. 
Weeks said that over the past 2.5 years, the company has focused on being more involved in the communities they are a part of. To that end, they have sponsored several programs and events, including the Weston County Library Summer Reading Program, the Weston County Fair and the Weston County Trade Fair/Health Fair in 2018. 
“Since 2011, RT has invested over $5.5 million in the town of Newcastle,” Weeks said. “These investments include fiber optic deployment and updated existing copper equipment improving existing services.” 
The company also has local technicians and is committed to having the latest technology to help its customers get the best service possible, Weeks said. 
“We have committed a lot of dollars to this area. RT investments in Weston County since 1995 is over $35.7 million, with $7.5 million in future builds,” Weeks said. 
“The main purpose of this visit is to let you know what we are doing with fiber in the area,” said Tobi Johansen, business solutions specialist for RT.
Part of the fiber upgrades was completed last year with the “cutting over to fiber” to begin in the spring for the construction that took place last year, according to Weeks. 
“In April, we will move forward with more fiber that will affect 400 homes,” Weeks said. Johansen said that these areas include the Frontier Subdivision and Wood Street area. 
With these upgrades, Johansen said, the community will have access to faster internet speeds and those in fiber areas will have the ability to purchase data-only plans. 
“We will also have plans come out for data only for copper homes, but there is no timeline for that implementation,” Johansen said. 
Part of helping customers have better internet service, he said, is being more involved with those customers and sharing knowledge with them. 
“Odds are, if you are having internet issues, it is because of your router and router access will help with these issues,” Johansen said. 
Part of this push is to get the company in front of as many entities as possible, and Johansen said that he is willing to deliver RT’s presentation to any organization or group at any time to help promote RT and the service it can provide to the community, he said. 
The commissioners advised RT to give the presentation to the cities and suggested other entities, such as the Weston County Senior Center. 
RT Communications will give its presentation to the Newcastle City Council on March 18.