FAQ - High Speed Internet on the I-70 Corridor

Updated May 3, 2008

Some options for high-speed Internet access on the eastern corridor (Bennett, Strasburg, Byers, Deer Trail, and surrounding areas) are Bijou/Netecin, RidgeViewTel (a company in Longmont that offers wireless Internet to several areas of Colorado), Direcway (now owned by HughesNet) or Prairie Networks/Wild Blue satellite Internet service, and TDS Telecom DSL service in Strasburg (primarily near town only as DSL is limited by distance). Comcast cable broadband service may be available in and west of Bennett -- if you live in that area you should check with them.

We have had Bijou/Netecin wireless Internet access for over five years, and since upgrading their equipment in 2006 the performance has been fast and reliable. For a while we also had a RidgeViewTel account in Strasburg and were very happy with their service - their prices were competitive, customer service was friendly, and they sometimes offer free installation and equipment.

Satellite service is fast and the people I've talked to that have it are very happy with it. Originally, if you needed to connect to corporate networks through VPN, satellite service was slow and unreliable. We successfully used VPN through a Wild Blue satellite connection at an expo last year, although we do not have everyday experience with it. The primary downside right now is that satellite won't support VoIP (Phone service through your Internet connection) and that installation can be expensive. If you are in areas that only support satellite for high-speed Internet, it is an excellent option, and Prairie Networks often has specials on installation that can save you money.

Wishing you a speedy online connection,

Terrye Hoffman

Prairie Skies Technical Services, LLC

E-mail: terrye@pstechservices.com