Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear’s office and Osage Broadband have rolled out its program to provide free fiber optic internet to tribal elders living in the areas with completed fiber optic construction.
Osage elders 55 and older who live within Osage County and have an active account with Osage Broadband are eligible for this service. According to the Osage Broadband website, applicants must also be an enrolled member of the tribe and live within Osage County.
“We hold our elders in the highest regard in the Osage Nation,” said Assistant Principal Chief RJ Walker. “They are our connection to our familial and tribal histories. Anything that we can do to enrich their lives is worth every penny in our budgeting. We see the internet as an essential service for our elders to stay happy, healthy, connected to family and friends, and engaged in their communities.”
Osage Broadband is offering three plans of different speeds ranging in cost from $49.99 to $125 per month. Standing Bear’s office is providing a monthly subsidy of $49.99, which can be applied to any plan through Osage Broadband.
“In addition, the tribal member can apply their $49.99 benefit to any of the three plans,” said Osage LLC Project Manager Berbon Hamilton. “They will be personally billed for the difference if they choose one of the plans that is greater than $49.99.”
According to Wahzhazhe Connect, Osage Broadband powered by AtLink is already providing service to Pawhuska Senior Housing, Barnsdall, Grayhorse, 12 miles east of Grayhorse, areas in and around Bowring, and the Osage County Big Bend area. Fairfax Senior Housing and Hominy are nearing completion of construction. Pawhuska Indian Village is under construction and will be completed in August. Areas from McCord to Highway 18 are under construction and are scheduled to be completed in October. Areas preparing for construction include Pawhuska to Bartlesville, Pawhuska to Hominy and Fairfax.
“We are currently identifying additional tower locations to support the Osage Elder’s program, and additional areas will be opened up over the next several months,” said Jim Trumbly, the Director of WahZhaZhe Connect.
Osage elder David Evans was the first tribal member to have the service installed at senior housing in Pawhuska. He has had Osage Broadband since the beginning of May.
“I am a heavy user of the internet,” Evans said. “I have been that way for the last 25 years. It really became a factor in my business and personal use.”
Evans used a different internet provider before Osage Broadband and tried out the service. He decided to stick with Osage Broadband and likes it so far and can use multiple devices at once on the network.
“I found that Osage Broadband provided me with equal service, maybe even a little bit better,” he said. “The service has been great; I have not had any problems.”
Jennifer Tiger is another tribal member who has Osage Broadband. Her service was installed at her house in Pawhuska in June, and she opted for the basic internet plan. She has used other internet providers previously but plans on being a long-term customer with Osage Broadband.
“I think I’m done hopping around,” Tiger said. “I’ve had AT&T, I’ve had T-Mobile. I can see the tower from my porch, so my antenna outside of my house is a line of sight to the tower in Pawhuska. I don’t plan on going anywhere, and I’ve had internet services for decades, so it’s an essential service for me.”
To have fiber optic internet through Osage Broadband installed at your residence, visit osagebroadband.com to check the availability of services at your address. You can also call (918) 225-2327 or email: Info@AtLink.net
