Rachel West, a freshman at Shelbyville High School, was very excited to get PWR-net Internet to help with her homework research and to be able to send and receive E-mails.

Scott and Tina West were without Internet in their home for a couple of years as dial-up just wasn't worth the cost or aggravation. With their daughter Rachel entering her freshman year at Shelbyville High School this year, it was time to bring the Internet back into their rural Lakewood home. "We had dial-up at one time, but the speeds were slow and with today's need for faster Internet connection, it just wasn't worth keeping," said Scott West. "Also with Rachel entering high school we really needed an Internet solution to help her with her studies," noted West.

In June, at the cooperative's annual meeting, Scott visited the PWR-net booth to talk to them about the co-op's wireless broadband product and signed up on the spot. "There really wasn't that many options out there for us where we live
so I was happy to see the cooperative was offering an Internet solution," said West.

Rachel was excited when she learned they were not only getting the Internet back but also a faster, more reliable Internet. "Even my friends knew I was excited about having the Internet back at home," said Rachel. "It has been a big help with schoolwork since some of the homework you need to be able to research online. There is also online study help," continued Rachel. Rachel also likes the fact the family can send and receive e-mails again. "Before we started using PWR-net, I basically had to use friends' Internet connections at their homes or use one of the computers at school. It is nice to be able to get online at home," said Rachel.

Even though Scott said they primarily signed up for PWR-net to help his daughter with schoolwork, all of the West family has reasons to be excited about high-speed Internet. Rachel's mom, Tina, likes having the Internet again. Her daughter swims on the Sullivan swim team in the winter and the Shelbyville Lakers swim team in the summer. They send team schedules, mainly via e-mail or the team posts things online. "We were kind of living in the 'Dark Ages' without the Internet and it is nice to be able to receive e-mail notices and swim team related information in a timely manner," said Tina West. Scott also uses the Internet to do research for his Sunday school lessons. There is even a little online shopping that goes on from time to time in the West household.

If you want to learn more about the cooperative's line-of-sight wireless broadband product, PWR-net, e-mail them at subscriberinterest@pwr-net.coop, call them toll free at 1-877-994-2323 or visit them online at www.pwr-net.coop.