When schools closed during the COVID shelter-in-place orders in Unalaska, OptimERA responded by providing all teachers and students (including remote college students) free access to the internet. We gave 50% more usage to all customers to help keep people connected.
We partnered with AT&T and GCI to take advantage of unused wireless spectrum in our market to improve reach and access for folks who lacked access to our hotspot to be able to take advantage of our data services.
We were even contacted by teachers in urban areas that were concerned about their students lacking access to service. They had heard what we were doing and wondered if we could provide service in their area. This isn’t the first time that we have been asked if we could provide service in areas that “should” have service. Just a testament to how much work needs to be done.
Being able to give back and help people out is the best feeling. We may be a for-profit corporation, but we use those profits to make things better.