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Author: builtbygcommerce
December 16, 2019

Continuing education and enrichment helps people improve their lives

The Oyster Ridge BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) is a legal entity made possible through an agreement between Western Wyoming Community College and Lincoln County School District #1 to offer educational services not specifically being provided by either of them. The mission of the Oyster Ridge BOCES is to serve the higher education needs of the community through education and skill set training.

A Variety of Classes

Located in Diamondville, it offers continuing education and enrichment in the following areas:

Vocational, technical and professional education
Broadly based education in the Arts, Sciences and Humanities for degree seeking and non-degree seeking students
Personal growth, recreation and leisure, along with mental and physical fitness

Bridget Stewart, Executive Director of Oyster Ridge BOCES, said, “Our BOCES is designed to provide high school and adult learners with adult basic education and online college-level classes as well as fill any other educational niche that we can handle more effectively than either WWCC or LCSD #1 could do alone. We work closely with both LCSD #1 and WWCC to ensure that our educational programs provide a seamless transition from high school to college and enable people who have been out of school awhile to smoothly transition back into educational or training programs.”

Connecting with All West

Oyster Ridge BOCES currently gets 100 Mbps fiber internet and Hosted VoIP phone service from All West. (As their broadband needs grow, All West will be able to provide internet speeds up to 1 Gig.) The relationship between the two organizations began in 2016.

Phil Marchant, Corporate Sales Executive, explained, “All West expanded their fiber optic footprint throughout portions of Kemmerer and Diamondville during summer 2016. Later that fall, Oyster Ridge BOCES signed up for high-speed broadband and had their phone numbers ported over to All West.”

He added, “Oyster Ridge originally received their data and voice services over copper lines from the incumbent telco. When I initially contacted Bridget Stewart about All West’s fiber, she was excited to switch in order to get higher internet speeds. In June 2019, Bridget reached out to All West and asked about a new phone system to replace their analog voice service and provide enhanced features such as voicemail to email, music on hold and after-hours auto attendant. After some discussions with her and finding out the needs of Oyster Ridge BOCES, I proposed All West’s Hosted VoIP business phone system. In August 2019, All West installed this system.”

What does Stewart think of the internet and phone services from All West compared to the services previously used by Oyster Ridge BOCES? She replied, “With our previous communications provider, we were always having internet issues which made it difficult to test students and get work done. Now that we have All West’s fiber internet, we no longer have those problems. We also love our new Hosted VoIP phone system. It’s allowed us to work more efficiently.”

Given the vital importance of All West’s services to students and staff, Stewart appreciates the responsive customer service and tech support Oyster Ridge BOCES receives.

“I think All West’s customer service and support is excellent! I know someone will be here quickly if we have an issue. The best thing is, All West will always try and help you over the phone first, which is great,” said Stewart.

Marchant noted, “Oyster Ridge BOCES has been amazing for our All West team to work with. Since it’s an education center, having the fast speed of our fiber internet offers the students and staff the most effective classroom and work environments they can possibly have in rural Wyoming.”

Past Successes, Future Plans

This time of year is a natural opportunity to reflect on 2019’s accomplishments and look ahead to 2020’s goals, and Stewart was happy to share her thoughts on these topics.

“The thing I am most proud of when it comes to the Oyster Ridge BOCES is that we truly are helping people. We want everyone to be successful in what they do, and we are here to assist them however we can. In 2020, our goal is to increase awareness in the community about everything Oyster Ridge BOCES has to offer,” Stewart said.

Author: builtbygcommerce
December 5, 2019

Did you hear? All West Communications was recently awarded a USDA grant of $4.79M to provide broadband services to residents and businesses in Granger, Farson, and Eden, Wyoming. And while some of the project phases will take three to four years to complete, we are making plans to get the project started in the coming year.

What does this mean for you?

More broadband options with plans that include speeds from 100 Mbps to up to a Gig.
More entertainment choices with a variety of TV package offerings, premium channels, and added features you won’t find anywhere else.
More ways to connect to the people and places that matter to you most.
More opportunity to grow your business and compete with the growing online market.
More accessibility to work from home or gain new skills through online learning.
More comfort through telemedicine and internet-based security systems.
More business solutions with hosted VoIP and managed Wi-Fi options.

The best part? You will be getting the best the industry has to offer in the way of broadband. Services will be offered over a buried, all-fiber infrastructure—not susceptible to bad weather, faulty satellite dishes, natural obstructions like mountains or a dense grove of trees, or the occasional traffic accident that takes down a utility pole. You can rest easy knowing that your broadband service is protected.

The details. All West will build close to 100 miles of fiber-optic infrastructure connecting approximately 320 homes, 20 businesses, 18 farms, a Granger school, and a K-12 school campus in Farson. We will keep you updated on the plans so check back and watch our Facebook page for more details.

Your connection begins with our commitment.

Author: builtbygcommerce
November 15, 2019

Internet vs. Wi-Fi is a common topic of confusion, but understanding the difference is key to optimizing your connection. The internet is a global network that allows you to access websites like AllWest.com, while Wi-Fi is the wireless technology that connects your devices to the internet within your home or office.

How does Internet vs. Wi-Fi work on your digital device?

Digital devices and the internet speak different digital signals, so the first piece of equipment you need to connect to the internet is a modem. A modem is the translator between the digital signal of your device and the analog signal the internet uses. It converts digital data signals into radio signals and back from your device to the internet.

When using All West’s internet services our modem is what establishes and maintains a connection with internet service and your device. A connection to our services can be made several different ways depending on the infrastructure available in your area. The most common connections are made through Fiber, Coax (cable) and DSL (phone line). These connections also have different speeds to help transfer the data from the internet to your device.

Once you have established a modem, you will need a router if you are trying to connect to more than one device. The router takes the signal from the modem and distributes it to both wired devices and wireless (Wi-Fi) devices. The router also controls the area in which you can receive a wireless signal.

Not all routers are created equal. Your router signal needs to sync with your modem connection. And your modem and router need to be able to handle the speed you are paying for. For example, if your internet is provided through a Coax cable, your router needs to be compatible with a Coax connection—and if you’ve purchased a 1 Gig plan, your equipment needs to be Gig-capable. All West offers Plume to ensure you have the proper connection. Our routers also ensure your router is protected and allows us to trouble shoot any connection issues.

Having the right modem and router in place gives you a better internet experience.

Author: builtbygcommerce
September 30, 2019

bringing internet speeds up to 1 Gig, a streaming TV platform and digital phone service

All West Communications is thrilled to announce the launch of lightning-fast broadband, a streaming TV service and digital phone solutions—over an all-fiber network—to the residents of Hideout, Utah.

Construction began on July 8, 2019 in the Rustler area of Hideout and will extend to other developments within the town (on both sides of Route 248) this year and next. The current build has included more than 16,700 feet of fiber and duct which will provide services to current and future residents of the town of Hideout. This is just one of the major buildouts All West invested in this year and we are excited to be expanding our service offerings so close to home.

Internet offerings will include speeds from 100Mbps to up to 1Gig and we’ll also be offering our streaming TV service—All West.tv. This service includes 100 hours of Cloud DVR, HD channels (as available), restart and replay, and the ability to stream three devices at once. The best part? All West.tv is a self-install, app-based platform that does not require a set-top box or additional wiring.

On Monday, September 23 All West brought services to our first customer in Forevermore Estates. In less than three months, micro-trenching more than 3.25 miles of road, laying in fiber and duct work, setting up systems on the backend to providing services to our first customer were all accomplished. A huge success given a project of this size typically takes twice as long. All West will continue connecting as many customers as possible before the weather makes it impossible to do so.

Matthew Weller, President of All West Communications, stated; "The cooperation of Mayor Rubin and his staff have made our ability to provide services a reality. We are very pleased to offer broadband services to the town of Hideout and we are committed to expanding services to new developments in the town, namely Soaring Hawk, Deer Waters, Klaim and Shoreline.”

All West Communications believes in delivering the best possible services to our communities—and investing in all-fiber networks is one way we do this. Fiber provides the ability to offer faster speeds and a more reliable, stable network, compared to wireless or satellite options. As a local company, we treat our customers like more than just a number. Our office in Kamas, just eight minutes from Hideout, welcomes customers in person, over the phone or via email correspondence.

We look forward to partnering with you for your telecommunication needs.

Author: builtbygcommerce
September 5, 2019

Author: builtbygcommerce
August 13, 2019

Author: builtbygcommerce
July 18, 2019

On July 8, Lisa Barnes, customer service representative, in our Rock Springs’ office was honored by the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce with an “Excellence in Customer Service” award. According to Rick Lee, CEO, Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce, “The goal of the “Excellence in Customer Service” award is to acknowledge the unique attributes of front-end workers--the people who visitors and locals interact with in businesses across the area. It honors those whom we believe portray positive representations of our community.”

Lisa’s nomination was exceptional, and the decision to award her this recognition was unanimous. What stood out the most was that she was recognized by upper management from her corporate office who offered specific details about Lisa’s strengths—from her infectious smile to her never wavering positive attitude. Lisa is a real attribute to the All West team and we feel lucky to have her. Congratulations, Lisa!

Author: builtbygcommerce
February 28, 2019

Networks charge local TV providers, like All West, fees to carry channels, and these fees continue to increase each year. And in 2018, these price increases are some of the highest we have ever seen.

Notably, while we have had to drop content to keep our price steady, All West Communications has not passed along a rate increase to our customers since 2014.

To help provide some context, the following information was taken from a December 22, 2017 Variety article which demonstrates the annual increases that other companies are passing along to their consumers:

Comcast is hiking monthly rates for most bundles about $5/mo.
Dish is raising rates as of January 16, 2018, with most programming packages set to increase by $3 per month in addition to a $2 monthly increase for local channels.
DirecTV's Select package will go up $2 per month, while Entertainment is increasing $3; Choice will be $4 higher; Xtra will rise $7; and Ultimate and Premier tiers will increase by $8/mo.
Charter bundles will see an increase of $10.
Cox Communications, meanwhile, will raise rates January 7, with increases of 2.5%-6% depending on service package.

Many customers, due to the increasing rates, start to ask about buying "only the channels they watch" or a-la-carte TV. Here is just one example of what that might look like:

HBO Direct: $14.99
CBS All Access: $5.99

If we use these two channels as examples, we could assume that individual channels might be priced direct to a customer somewhere between $6 and $15 per channel. So, if there are ten channels you really care about and watch, you could potentially spend somewhere between $60 - $150 - just to get those ten channels. By bundling channels together, the networks provide better pricing through the traditional TV package model.

All West strives to provide you with the content you want at a price you can afford. And while not all costs are within our control, we work hard to limit the increases we have to pass on to you.

Author: builtbygcommerce
February 28, 2019

On September 7, All West was honored as one of the two business recipients of the 2018 Bill Daniels Utah Ethical Leadership Awards.

To be considered for these awards, applicants are required to complete several essay questions pertaining to the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiatiatve Principles. Those principles include:

Integrity – Act with honesty in all situations
Trust – Build trust in all stakeholder relationships
Accountability – Accept responsibility for all decisions
Transparency – Maintain open and truthful communications
Fairness – Engage in fair competition and create equitable and just relationships
Respect – Honor the rights, freedoms, views and property of others
Rule of Law – Comply with the spirit and intent of laws and regulations
Viability – Create long-term value for all relevant stakeholders

"We are honored to be recognized as a company that places ethics as a priority. In today's world, honesty and respect are not always the norm, but we believe those principles are crucial to any business's success," states All West President, Matt Weller. "And we work very hard to be transparent with our employees, customers and stakeholders and take accountability when we've made a mistake."

For more details about this award, check out this Utah Business magazine article.

Author: builtbygcommerce
February 28, 2019

The NCTC (National Cable Television Cooperative) represents more than 750 small and mid-size U.S. independent cable operators and acts as a programming and hardware purchasing organization for its member companies. And NCTC is actively engaged in helping network providers and suppliers evolve their business models to deploy new video/data solutions to match the changes in the media landscape.

In that, Mr. Weller's appointment provides All West with the opportunity to drive discussions regarding broadband's and cable television's future and vote on policies affecting their customers.

"The NCTC Board of Directors is an incredibly productive and motivated group of leaders dedicated to helping cable operators of all sizes offer new ways for their customers to enjoy information and entertainment. I'm ready to roll up my sleeves to start contributing to that effort," stated Matt Weller, President, All West Communications.

It is a great honor and privilege to be included on such an influential industry board. To read more about the NCTC and the full press release, click here.

Oyster Ridge BOCES

Continuing education and enrichment helps people improve their lives

A Variety of Classes

Connecting with All West

Past Successes, Future Plans

Fiber is coming to more communities in Sweewater County, Wyoming!

Internet vs. Wi-Fi

How does Internet vs. Wi-Fi work on your digital device?

Fiber Comes to Hideout, Utah

Tech Tip: Old Electronics

Tech Tip: Speeding Up Your Wi-Fi

Lisa Barnes receives Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce Award

Rate Increase

All West Communications Honored as Ethical Company

All West Communications, President, Matt Weller appointed to NCTC Board

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