On Wednesday, March 20, residents of Whitley County did their part to bring high-speed internet to their community by attending a workshop at the Whitley County Community Foundation in Columbia, Indiana.
The event, hosted by the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation, Whitley County Commissioners Office, Whitley County Community Foundation in partnership with Surf Internet, is designed to educate residents about the opportunities available through the Indiana Connect Plan (ICP) and guide them through them Application process.
County Commissioner Theresa Baysinger applauded the event, saying, “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Surf Internet and the Whitley County Community Foundation for hosting the recent event aimed at Take advantage of the incredible support provided by the Connect Indiana Initiative’s campaign. They share our mission to ensure every resident and business in our community has access to reliable internet.”
The statewide Hoosier Connect program is working to connect residents and businesses without access to broadband internet service to service providers and assist with the costs of extending broadband to these locations. Residents must apply to the program individually so that ICP can verify eligibility and evaluate each address on a case-by-case basis.
“Thank you to Surf Internet for playing a critical role in hosting the Indiana Connect Initiative event to help our community connect to reliable internet,” added Whitley County EDC President Dale Buuck. “This effort not only enhances connectivity but also strengthens our community’s commitment to growth and opportunity.”
Indiana residents and businesses without access to internet service or service speeds below 100 Mbps download, 20 Mbps upload are eligible to apply. Internet service providers, including Surf Internet, will later have the opportunity to bid for state Next Level Connections broadband grant funds to help provide high-speed Internet to communities in need.
Gene Crusie, CEO of Surf Internet, expressed his support and enthusiasm at the event, saying, “We are committed to doing everything we can to help the people of Whitley County get high-speed internet. Through our We know from the experience of other communities that when residents come together to make their voices heard, ICP listens. We believe this will have a positive impact in attracting critical grant funding to pave the way for high-speed internet.”
Surf Internet team members are on hand at computer stations throughout the REMC community room to answer questions and guide attendees through the application process.
Surf Internet is working to help underserved residents apply for this unique opportunity. To assist with the application process, Surf provides a dedicated application page for Indiana residents: https://surfinternet.com/icp.
About surfing the Internet
Surf Internet is an innovative fiber optic internet company and a vital gateway to connectivity in the Great Lakes region of Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. The company is delivering high-speed, reliable internet to homes and businesses in underserved rural communities, building a bridge to a bright future. Surf’s team of more than 200 people are local, giving them an advantage in customer service and advocacy in the area. Headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, Surf also has offices in La Porte, Indiana, Byron Center and Fowlerville, Michigan, and Coal City and Rock Falls, Illinois. For more information, please visit https://surfinternet.com.