Is High-Speed Internet Service Available To You?

By Randy Olson

Members of the Cooperative often ask about the availability of high-speed internet service for their home or business, especially since so many people now have home-based businesses or offices.  While Wayne-White Electric Cooperative does not provide internet service, we have done detailed research on behalf of our members to determine where high-speed internet service exists within our 11-county area, and where to obtain that service.  The reason is simple.  We want our members to be able to enjoy the same benefits and quality of life as the person living on Main Street USA.  High-speed internet connectivity gives you the opportunity to do things online such as download family photos & home movies, watch live sporting events, download music, build websites, sell items on Ebay, play video games, and research interactive websites for school projects and homework.  All of which are virtually impossible with simple dial-up connections.

Unlike other states that provide detailed vendor lists and coverage maps of high-speed internet service providers, Illinois residents are forced to go on a scavenger hunt to uncover the availability of high-speed internet service providers, particularily in the rural areas.  Most of the major telephone carriers like SBC and Verizon have concentrated their high-speed DSL efforts on larger towns and cities, leaving the rural population to fend for themselves.  This is eerily similar to what took place in the 1930’s when electricity first became available to rural america .  At that time, the privately-held power companies were only concerned with serving the densely populated areas.  You know the rest of the story….that’s why Wayne-White Electric Cooperative and hundeds of other cooperatives still exist today in our nation.

DSL vs. Wireless:  DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line and uses a specially prepared phone line to provide digital high speed service through a modem connected to your computer.  The advantage is that the user can still talk on the telephone even though the line might also be used for high-speed internet connectivity at the same time.  The disadvantage of DSL is the fact that you must have a landline phone line in the first place to be able to utilize DSL if it’s available in your area.  Since more and more people are going all cell phone at home and replacing their land line, this may not be the option you desire. It’s important to note that simply having a phone line does not guarantee the availability of DSL.  The line must be DSL ready.  You can check the status of your line through your local phone company or an internet service provider listed below. Wireless has advantages in that you do not need to have a phone line for access.  The disadvantage is that you may not be in close proximity to a wireless tower for access. If all else fails, there is one more option:  Wild Blue Satellite Internet Service.  It is higher in cost than the other options, but is available just about everywhere through Hamilton County Communications in Dahlgren.

Our member service area reaches into parts of 11 counties in southern Illinois .  As a result, there are many different phone companies and wireless vendors with the potential to offer high-speed internet service to you, depending upon where you live.  In some instances, you may have as many as 3 choices.  In other locales it may only be 1 choice or none at all.  We have researched the 10 major providers of high-speed internet service in the 11-county Wayne-White Co-Op membership area.  Here is what we know for sure:

Verizon offers limited DSL service to the Fairfield and Carmi area.  Not everyone in those zip codes can obtain it.  For availability, visit www.Verizon.net and plug in your phone number.

Wabash Independent Network (WIN), a division of Wabash Telephone now offers DSL service to phone customers on each of their exchanges, which includes the communities and telephone prefixes of Bone Gap, Browns, Cisne, Crisp, Geff, Johnsonville, Mt. Erie , Orchardville, and Xenia .  Call 1-877-878-2120.

Gill’s Sales & Service, doing business as Fairfield Wireless, offers high-speed wireless internet service to Fairfield , Golden Gate,  Albion , Grayville, Mill Shoals, Springerton, Calvin, Jasper and parts of Geff. They are also expanding to other rural areas which will be announced soon. Call 847-7066.

Hamilton County Communications offers limited DSL service to many of their telephone customers with  prefixes in Belle Prarie, Belle Rive, Blairsville, Broughton, Dale, Dahlgren, and Macedonia .  They also now have wireless internet service available in Enfield , Norris City , and Mcleansboro.  If you are not eligible for DSL or wireless, they are also a dealer representative for Wild Blue Satellite Internet service.  Call  1-800-447-8725

MVN.net, known as Mount Vernon.net offers wireless internet service to Wayne City .  Visit their website at www.mvn.net

Clearwave Communications offers limited DSL to Albion, Carmi, Fairfield and Olney phone prefixes.  For more info visit www.Clearwave.com

Earthlink.net offers limited DSL on a variety of local phone company DSL ready lines in southern Illinois .  For availability, visit www.Earthlink.net

Shawneelink.net offers DSL to the Crossville area on phonelines that are DSL ready. For availability, visit www.Shawneelink.net

Bspeedy.com offers wireless service to the Clay City and Noble area.  For more info visit www.bspeedy.com

Cellular One is now offering high-speed wireless internet service to areas in and around Flora, Clay City, Noble, Olney, and Parkersburg.  For availability call 1-800-735-2355 or visit http://cell1net.net

We hope this information is helpful to you.  Be sure to visit our website for regular updates on other information that is vital to the interest of the Wayne-White Electric Cooperative membership.  You can also call our Fairfield office at 842-2196.