Smithville Offers Free Wi-Fi Hotspots to Public in Monroe County
ELLETTSVILLE—Smithville Communications, Inc. is stepping up to connect Hoosiers in need of internet access during the COVID-19 crisis by offering free Wi-Fi hotspots in select locations throughout its Monroe County service territory. Hotspots can be used by individuals that need to connect to networks for work, school, or telehealth reasons.
Smithville’s Wi-Fi hotspots locations include the Monroe County Fairgrounds and Marci Jane Lewis Park in Ellettsville.
“We must all do our part to help our neighbors in this time of need,” said Darby McCarty, chairman and CEO of Smithville. “Smithville has an obligation to keep our customers, businesses, and fellow Hoosiers connected, and we take it very seriously. Our team is working every day, ensuring Smithville’s network is up and running to keep our customers connected to what matters most.”
Smithville is cautioning users to maintain social distancing and remain in their vehicles when accessing Wi-Fi hotspots. The company is also requesting users to keep these channels open for those in need and refrain from using them for recreational purposes such as gaming or streaming.
“In this time of uncertainty, we want to assure our customers, neighbors, and families that Smithville is here for you,” said Paul Quick, president of Smithville. “By providing free internet access, our company is offering a safe, reliable connection to those who need it.”
About Smithville
Nationally recognized for more than a decade as a Top 100 Broadband Company, privately owned Smithville is Indiana’s largest independent telecom company with more than 200 employees. As a fifth-generation, family-owned business, Smithville has been committed to delivering fast and reliable connectivity and legendary service to its customers for nearly a century. The company is well-known as an industry leader and community supporter for rural Indiana.
Since the early 1990s, Smithville has constructed more than 2,800 miles of high-speed, high-capacity fiber across more than 17 Indiana counties, representing private investments totaling upward of a quarter of a billion dollars, including the recent completion of a $4.5 million, 100-gigabit fiber ring.
In addition to its residential services, Smithville provides commercial fiber-based connectivity for businesses, university campuses, biotechnology companies, healthcare providers, government offices, residential centers, communities, and other entities, including the WestGate@Crane Technology Park and the Purdue Research Park. The company currently serves about 23,000 businesses and residences in southern and central Indiana. For more information, please visit www.smithville.com
