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What’s Happening at PANGAEA Internet – July 2019

 

 

 
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER                                                               July 25, 2019
 
Welcome Dana Conner, Network Technician
We are pleased to announce that Dana Conner has joined the PANGAEA Internet team as a Network Technician. Dana brings a wealth of technical knowledge, business skills, and community relationships to PANGAEA. His focus on customer service will allow PANGAEA to continue to exceed customer expectations and continue our positive community impact. 

As many of you know, Dana has been the President of Conner Computer Consultants, Inc. (“CCC”) in Rutherfordton for almost 20 years.  For the last several years Dana has transitioned to more of an administrative role at CCC, allowing him to take on these new responsibilities with PANGAEA. The CCC customers will continue to receive the same, high-quality level of service they have come to expect.

We look forward to Dana helping PANGAEA continue our rapid growth and outstanding customer service for the communities of Polk and Rutherford Counties.

 
 
3rd Quarter Testimonial Winner
 
Congratulations to
Tim Mace of Mt. Vernon Cubbard 
who received a $200 Invoice Credit! 
 
Check out PANGAEA’s Testimonial Page to see what everyone is saying about our service.

Tell us how PANGAEA Internet has impacted your organization to be entered into our quarterly drawing to receive a $200 invoice credit.

 
Review us on Google, Facebook, or from our website.



 
 
 
Support our non-profit mission by shopping at AmazonSmile. When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to E-Polk, Inc. dba PANGAEA Internet.

 
PANGAEA Internet’s non-profit mission is to deliver affordable, reliable connectivity and services for our region that will enhance economic development, improve the quality of life, and create a broad platform of innovation enabling underserved areas.

 
 
Refer a Customer

PANGAEA Internet is available to all commercial customers that are near our fiber route 
(Network Map).

If a referral from a current PANGAEA customer results in a signed service agreement, we will credit your PANGAEA invoice $200. Click here to submit your referral.   
 
Business & Product Questions
Ron Walters, Executive Director, (828) 859-3072, ronw@e-polk.org

Service & Support Questions
Ken Griffin, Operations Director, (828) 859-3072, network@e-polk.org
Dana Conner, Network Technician, (828) 859-3072, network@e-polk.org

After Hours Support
(877) 859-8219, network@e-polk.org

Billing & Other Questions
Carolyn Whitehead, Office Administrator, (828) 859-3072, carolyn@e-polk.org
 
 

What’s Happening at PANGAEA Internet – June 2019

 

 

 

 
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER                                                               June 25, 2019
 
HAVE YOU SPOTTED OUR BILLBOARD?
We would love to hear your feedback!

You can email staff@e-polk.org with any comments or questions.  




 
 
2019 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
Fiber Optic 1-2-3 Training Course
Congratulations to Cody Mills of Ellenboro, NC. Cody applied for and received PANGAEA Internet’s $750 scholarship to attend a 4-day Fiber Optic 1-2-3 training course this month.



Cody says, “As a driven learner, I feel like this scholarship will help me further my career goals by providing me with the knowledge necessary to assist in maintaining infrastructure for my employer. It is critical to have personnel properly trained for various issues, especially in a rural area such as Rutherford County. I feel like it would be a great benefit, both to myself and to the community as a whole, for more technicians in the area to be trained in fiber optics.”
 
2nd Quarter Testimonial Winner
 
Congratulations to
David Swain of Midway Baptist Church 
who received a $200 Invoice Credit! 
 
Check out PANGAEA’s Testimonial Page to see what everyone is saying about our service.

Tell us how PANGAEA Internet has impacted your organization to be entered into our quarterly drawing to receive a $200 invoice credit.

 
Click HERE to Submit your Testimonial from our website
or
Review us on Google (click the image below). 

 
 
 

 Support our non-profit mission by shopping at AmazonSmile. When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to E-Polk, Inc. dba PANGAEA Internet.  
 
PANGAEA Internet’s non-profit mission is to deliver affordable, reliable connectivity and services for our region that will enhance economic development, improve the quality of life, and create a broad platform of innovation enabling underserved areas.
 
Refer a Customer

PANGAEA Internet is available to all commercial customers that are near our fiber route 
(Network Map).

If a referral from a current PANGAEA customer results in a signed service agreement, we will credit your PANGAEA invoice $200. Click here to submit your referral.   
 
Business & Product Questions
Ron Walters, Executive Director, (828) 859-3072, ronw@e-polk.org

Service & Support Questions
Ken Griffin, Operations Director, (828) 859-3072, network@e-polk.org

After Hours Support
(877) 859-8219, network@e-polk.org

Billing & Other Questions
Carolyn Whitehead, Office Administrator, (828) 859-3072, carolyn@e-polk.org
 
 
 

What’s Happening at PANGAEA Internet – February 2019

 

 

 
   QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER                                         February 2019
 

2018 Community Impact Report

Click below to read PANGAEA’s
2018 Community Impact Report
Click below to read PANGAEA’s
2018 Community Impact Report
 
2018 Celebration Dinner

Last month PANGAEA Internet’s board and staff enjoyed an evening to celebrate the many accomplishments of 2018 and the past 15 years.  
 
Testimonial Winners
 
Congratulations to
Pat Buede of Workforce Benefits Company
and
Tim Barth, Town Manager of Town of Columbus

They each received a $200 Invoice Credit! 

 
See what Pat, Tim and other customers have to say on the Testimonial Page of our website.

Tell us how PANGAEA Internet has impacted your organization to be entered into our quarterly drawing to receive a $200 invoice credit.
 

Review us on Google (click the image below). 



or Submit your Testimonial from our website HERE
 
 
 

Support our non-profit mission by shopping at AmazonSmile. When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to E-Polk, Inc. dba PANGAEA Internet. 
PANGAEA Internet’s non-profit mission is to deliver affordable, reliable connectivity and services for our region that will enhance economic development, improve the quality of life, and create a broad platform of innovation enabling underserved areas.
 
Refer a Customer

PANGAEA Internet is available to all commercial customers that are near our fiber route (Network Map).

If a referral from a current PANGAEA customer results in a signed service agreement, we will credit your PANGAEA invoice $200. Click here to submit your referral. 
 
 
Business & Product Questions
Ron Walters, Executive Director, (828) 859-3072, ronw@e-polk.org

Service & Support Questions
Ken Griffin, Operations Director, (828) 859-3072, network@e-polk.org
James Green, Network Technician, (828) 859-3072, network@e-polk.org

After Hours Support
(877) 859-8219, network@e-polk.org

Billing & Other Questions
Carolyn Whitehead, Office Administrator, (828) 859-3072, carolyn@e-polk.org
 
 

What’s Happening at PANGAEA Internet – September 2018

 

 
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER                                      September 26, 2018
 

200 Customers & Growing!

PANGAEA Internet reached an exciting milestone this summer when The Brown Companies, LLC in Columbus became our 200th Customer. The owners, Barry and Jo Brown, were awarded with a $200 Amazon Gift Card so that they too could share in our celebration! (Pictured below L to R: Ron Walters, PANGAEA’s Executive Director, Jo Brown and Barry Brown)

Jo Brown commented, “We are extremely excited to be connected to PANGAEA Internet. This summer Barry and I made the decision to make a substantial investment in our office’s IT structure in order to offer the very best cutting edge service, security and privacy protection to our clients. Upgrading to the dependability and affordability of the PANGAEA fiber optic connection was necessary for the security of our project. Ken Griffin and James Green from PANGAEA made the transition seamless. Our partnership with the PANGAEA team is essential to delivering the quality services our clients deserve and expect.”
 
Customer Satisfaction Survey Results
Thank you to all of our customers who participated in our recent Customer Satisfaction Survey. The results were impressive with 100% of our survey respondents stating they are “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with PANGAEA Internet. We also received many customer testimonials, which you can find our our website at www.pangaea.us
Congratulations to our testimonial drawing winner, Jennifer McCluney of Team CFA Foundation. Jennifer received a $400 invoice credit for her organization. (Pictured above: L-Carolyn Whitehead, PANGAEA’s Office Administrator and R-Jennifer McCluney, Team CFA’s Finance Director)
 
PANGAEA Provides Broadband Service for
FEI World Equestrian Games

 
PANGAEA Internet, the leading commercial provider of high-speed fiber optic internet service for Polk and Rutherford counties, was the primary internet services provider for the FEI World Equestrian Games, which was held September 11-23, 2018 at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Tryon, NC.

Network performance was perfect (100% network uptime)!
 
 
 

Support our non-profit mission by shopping at AmazonSmile. When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to E-Polk, Inc. dba PANGAEA Internet. 
PANGAEA Internet’s non-profit mission is to deliver affordable, reliable connectivity and services for our region that will enhance economic development, improve the quality of life, and create a broad platform of innovation enabling underserved areas.
 
Refer a Customer

PANGAEA Internet is available to all commercial customers that are near our fiber route
(Network Map).

If a referral from a current PANGAEA customer results in a signed service agreement, we will credit your PANGAEA invoice $200. Click here to submit your referral. 
 
 

PANGAEA Internet Selected to Provide Broadband Service for FEI World Equestrian Games

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
PANGAEA Internet Selected to Provide Broadband Service
for FEI World Equestrian Games

TRYON, N.C. / September 5, 2018 – PANGAEA Internet (PANGAEA), the leading commercial provider of high-speed fiber optic internet service for Polk and Rutherford counties, has been selected as the primary internet services provider for the FEI World Equestrian Games, which will be held Sept. 11-23 at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Tryon, N.C.

“We are thrilled to play such an important role in the World Equestrian Games,” said Ron Walters, executive director of PANGAEA Internet. “The games will bring unmatched excitement and opportunity to our area and will showcase the region to worldwide visitors.”
 
The FEI World Equestrian Games, held every four years in the middle of the Olympic cycle, is one of the largest events on the global sporting calendar, combining eight equestrian World Championship-caliber events in one location. This year’s competition marks the eighth edition of the games and the second time they have been held in North America. The event has the potential to be the largest sporting event in North Carolina history—with a projected economic impact of $400 million, 500,000 spectators across 13 days and more than 70 countries represented.
 
PANGAEA is the primary internet services provider for this year’s venue, the Tryon International Equestrian Center. For the past 12 months, PANGAEA has conducted an extensive network upgrade in order to meet the event’s expected internet demands. “In preparation for the bandwidth demand of the games, PANGAEA has increased our network capacity by a factor of 10 for the month of September,” said Ken Griffin, PANGAEA Internet’s operations director.


PANGAEA Internet (pan-GEE-ah) is a non-profit provider of “Speed of Light” fiber optic internet service. Our network currently serves customers at more than 250 locations across Polk and Rutherford counties, including public school districts, city and county governments, health care facilities and local businesses. Visit us online at www.pangaea.us, or contact Executive Director Ron Walters at 828-859-3072.

 
 
 

Exciting Happenings as NC Rural Day features PANGAEA Internet – June 2018

 




QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER                                                               June 18, 2018



Rural Day 2018 was presented by the NC Rural Center to bring awareness toward improving access to broadband, health care and small business development. Ron Walters, PANGAEA Internet’s Executive Director, was one of three speakers representing broadband innovation. Read the PANGAEA story here:
Broadband Innovation: PANGAEA Internet

Welcome James Green, Network Technician

We are pleased to announce that James Green has joined the PANGAEA team. James is a U.S. Army veteran and brings broad knowledge of network switches and routers as well as CAT 5/6 and fiber optic cabling. James was most recently a Network Technician for Charter Communications. Previously he worked for Asymmetric Warfare Group and General Dynamics.

James lives in Landrum, SC and has an AAS degree in Computer Information Technologies and holds certificates in Cisco routing and switching.

2018 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
Fiber Optic 1-2-3 Training Course

Congratulations to Tom Roberson of City Computer. Tom applied for and received PANGAEA Internet’s $750 scholarship to attend a 4-day Fiber Optic 1-2-3 training course this month. 

Prior scholarship recipient, T.J. Byers says this about his current career, “I left my job at the Facebook Data Center back in May of 2017 to pursue a new opportunity. I was hired directly to work for the Data Center Management team of Amerisourcebergen, a pharmaceutical distribution/wholesale company. I am responsible for the daily operations of the Charlotte Data Center. I am also involved with building out our Visual Data Center and have been on the team that set up our remote monitoring for our sites. I am also responsible for scheduling Preventative Maintenance for our cooling units and UPS systems.

The course that I took with the assistance of your organization is a huge reason as to why I am where I am today.”


PANGAEA Public Wi-Fi is available in many downtown areas of Polk & Rutherford counties including Harmon Field and Lake Lure Beach. Since 2015, more than 850,000 users have accessed the free public networks.

Testimonial Winners
Congratulations to
Lee Lindsay of Steps to Hope 
who received a $200 Invoice Credit! 

See what Lee and other customers have to say on the Testimonial Page of our website.

Tell us how PANGAEA Internet has impacted your organization to be entered into our quarterly drawing to receive a $200 invoice credit.

Click HERE to Submit your Testimonial from our website
or
Review us on Google (click the image below).


Refer a Customer

PANGAEA Internet is available to all commercial customers that are near our fiber route (Network Map).

If a referral from a current PANGAEA customer results in a signed service agreement, we will credit your PANGAEA invoice $200.  Click here to submit your referral.

Website

Email

Facebook

LinkedIn

 

PANGAEA Internet Expands Staff to Meet Growing Internet Demands



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PANGAEA Internet Expands Staff to Meet Growing Internet Demands

TRYON, NC / March 26, 2018 – In order to meet the growing demand for PANGAEA Internet’s “Speed of Light” internet service, the company has added James Green to its staff as Network Technician. James is a U.S. Army veteran and brings broad knowledge of network switches and routers as well as CAT 5/6 and fiber optic cabling. James was most recently a Network Technician for Charter Communications and previously worked for Asymmetric Warfare Group and General Dynamics. James lives in Landrum, SC and has an AAS degree in Computer Information Technologies and holds certificates in Cisco routing and switching.

In addition, the company announced that Ken Griffin was promoted from Network Engineer to Operations Director. Ken joined PANGAEA in 2015 and has more than 20 years of information technology support and management experience. Since joining the company, Ken has delivered excellent results in the areas of network design, network planning, installations and maintenance.

After more than 13 years, PANGAEA’s former Operations Director, Stu Davidson, retired at the end of 2017. Stu designed, operated and maintained PANGAEA’s network and had a great impact on the company’s success. Stu is currently working part time for PANGAEA as an independent contractor.

“The PANGAEA staff is the best I’ve ever worked with and is the key ingredient in our growth and outstanding customer service,” according to Ron Walters, PANGAEA Internet Executive Director.


PANGAEA Internet (pan-GEE-ah) is a non-profit provider of “Speed of Light” fiber optic internet service. Our network currently serves customers at more than 250 locations across Polk and Rutherford Counties, including public school districts, city and county governments, health care facilities, and local businesses. Visit us online at www.pangaea.us, or contact Executive Director Ron Walters at 828-859-3072.

 

What’s Happening at PANGAEA Internet – March 2018

 




QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER                                                                March 7, 2018

2017 Community Impact Report
Connecting Communities – Dramatic Results





Click below to read about PANGAEA Internet’s mission, community impact, partnerships, and customers.
2017 Community Impact Report



2018 Celebration Dinner
PANGAEA Internet’s board and staff enjoyed an evening to celebrate the many milestones reached over the past 15 years.

PANGAEA Wi-Fi is available in many downtown areas of Polk & Rutherford counties including Harmon Field and Lake Lure Beach. Since 2015, more than 744,000 users have accessed the networks.

Testimonial Winners
Congratulations to
Samuel Staton of Staton & Cooper, PC
and
Karyl Fuller, of Isothermal Planning.
They each received a $200 Invoice Credit! 

See what Samuel, Karyl and other customers have to say on the Testimonial Page of our website.

Tell us how PANGAEA Internet has impacted your organization to be entered into our quarterly drawing to receive a $200 invoice credit.

Click HERE to Submit your Testimonial from our website
or
Review us on Google (click the image below).


Refer a Customer

PANGAEA Internet is available to all commercial customers that are near our fiber route (Network Map).

If a referral from a current PANGAEA customer results in a signed service agreement, we will credit your PANGAEA invoice $200.  Click here to submit your referral.

Website

Email

Facebook

 

What’s Happening at PANGAEA Internet – September 2017

 

 




QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER                                                                SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

2017 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
Fiber Optic 1-2-3 Training Course

PANGAEA Internet offered a $750 scholarship to attend a 4-day Fiber Optic 1-2-3 training course in July. After completing the class, scholarship recipient Tristan Morse had this to say, “This course increased my skills by providing solid, textual knowledge on procedures, codes, and special terms. Not only that, the hands-on work reinforced what I learned from the written course work. With this, I can say that I have gained a solid education with Fiber Optics maintenance.”

Pictured: Scholarship recipient
Tristan Morse with Carolyn
Whitehead of PANGAEA Internet

Another Successful Network Upgrade!
We recently completed a network upgrade that doubled our supply of internet bandwidth to meet the demand of our fast-growing family of customers. Pictured below is PANGAEA’s Network Engineer, Ken Griffin (left) and our Operations Director, Stu Davidson.

Wi-Fi usage has far exceeded expectations. The original target was 18,000 annual users. Since the project inception in 2015, more than 500,000 users have accessed the networks.

PANGAEA Wi-Fi is available in many downtown areas of Polk & Rutherford counties including Harmon Field and Lake Lure Beach.

Testimonial Winner
Congratulations to Michaila Cowles of Huckleberry’s Restaurant who received at $200 Invoice Credit! 

See what Michaila and other customers have to say on the Testimonial Page of our website.

Tell us how PANGAEA Internet has impacted your organization to be entered into our quarterly drawing to receive a $200 invoice credit.

Click HERE to Submit your Testimonial from our website
or
Review us on Google (click the image below).


Refer a Customer

PANGAEA Internet is available to all commercial customers that are near our fiber route (Network Map).

If a referral from a current PANGAEA customer results in a signed service agreement, we will credit your PANGAEA invoice $200.  Click here to submit your referral.

DID YOU KNOW?

Fiber cables are a green technology.
We can all do our part and fiber optic cables are no different.  The amount of energy it takes to send a flash of light across a fiber optic cable is significantly less than that required to send electrical signals (copper cables). Less energy means less carbon output, lower emissions and greener operations.

Website

Email

Facebook


 

What’s Happening at PANGAEA Internet – May 2017




SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JUNE 5, 2017

PANGAEA Internet is offering scholarships to Polk and Rutherford county residents to attend Fiber Optic Splicing training to be held July 18 – 21, 2017 in Spartanburg, SC.

Visit https://pangaea.us/pangaea-scholarship-program-and-application/ to learn more and submit your application.

PANGAEA Internet quickly installed a 1GB connection last month for the Tryon International Equestrian Center’s (TIEC) new steeplechase location, which  hosted the 71st annual steeplechase event. The new Columbus, NC location drew over 9,000 spectators. In addition to TIEC’s main location, PANGAEA Internet now serves four of their nearby locations including the Steeplechase.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, PANGAEA Internet qualifies for donations from the AmazonSmile Foundation of 0.5% of the purchase price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases.

If you would like to participate, please use this link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/30-0156436  to go to smile.amazon.com in support of our organization “E-Polk, Inc. dba PANGAEA Internet”.

“Amazon will not share individual customer information with charitable organizations even if you select to support them through your shopping on AmazonSmile. Please see the Amazon.com Privacy Notice for more information.”

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Carolyn at carolyn@e-polk.org or 828-859-3072.

Testimonial Winners

Congratulations to
Scott Warren of CooperRiis
who received a
$200 Invoice Credit!

See what Scott and other customers have to say on the Testimonial Page of our website.

Submit a TestimonialTake a few minutes and tell us how PANGAEA Internet has impacted your organization. Every quarter, all customers who have submitted testimonials will be entered into a drawing to receive a $200 invoice credit. (Click here to participate.)

 

DID YOU KNOW
THE MEANING OF PANGAEA?
PANGAEA [pan-jee-uh] is a Greek word meaning the “whole earth” and reflects our belief in the power of the internet to connect our communities with the world – and we’ve only just begun!

 

Refer a Customer
PANGAEA Internet is available to all commercial customers that are near our fiber route (Network Map).  If a referral from a current PANGAEA customer results in a signed service agreement, we will credit your PANGAEA invoice $200.
(Click here to submit your referral.)

Board Officers

Jim Edwards, President
Joe Crowder, Secretary
Harry Grymes, Treasurer

Board Directors

Jeff Byrd
Steve Garrison
Marche Pittman
Russ Pitts

Staff

Ron Walters, Executive Director
Stu Davidson, Operations Director
Ken Griffin, Network Engineer
Carolyn Whitehead, Office Administrator

Contract Support

Jody Gill, CPA, Accounting & Reporting
Sean O’Connell, Network Technician


 

Public Wi-Fi Shatters Expectations

 



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PANGAEA Internet Public Wi-Fi Project
Shatters Expectations

TRYON, NC / November 8, 2016 The recently completed PANGAEA Internet Public Wi-Fi deployment has far exceeded expectations in both coverage and usage. The systems, which provide free public Wi-Fi internet service via 57 access points in Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, Saluda, Columbus, and Tryon, served nearly ten times the projected number of users in 2016.

The PANGAEA Public Wi-Fi project exceeded expectations in two ways.

First, PANGAEA built a prototype system in Tryon before applying for and receiving a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. Efficiencies developed during the prototype phase enabled PANGAEA to design and build the original three systems under budget. Therefore an additional two markets were added to the project. Total project costs were about $60,000 and the Towns and PANGAEA contributed grant matching funds.

Second, Wi-Fi usage has far exceeded expectations. The original target was 50 daily users or 18,000 annual users. Since January 1, 2016, PANGAEA Public Wi-Fi has served 144,000 users. Since the project inception in 2015, 268,000 users have accessed the networks.

According to PANGAEA Internet Operations Director Stu Davidson, developing strong relationships within each community was essential to the success of the project. “Partnering with the schools, business owners, and municipal and county governments was extremely important,” said Davidson. “These relationships allowed PANGAEA to deploy access points at locations that would maximize signal coverage as well as promote the service.”

PANGAEA’s nonprofit structure results in low-cost, ongoing management and maintenance of the network. “As part of our commitment to community service, PANGAEA will absorb the ongoing operating costs of the Wi-Fi networks,” according to Ron Walters, PANGAEA Internet Executive Director. “It will make the region more competitive by enhancing the economic development for our businesses, the quality of life for our citizens and the area’s perception and experience for visitors.”


PANGAEA Internet (pan-GEE-ah) is a non-profit provider of “Speed of Light” fiber optic internet service. Our network currently serves customers at more than 200 locations across Polk and Rutherford Counties, including public school districts, city and county governments, health care facilities, and local businesses. Visit us online at www.pangaea.us, or contact Executive Director Ron Walters at 828-859-3072.

 

What’s Happening at PANGAEA Internet (August 2016)

 




PANGAEA Internet Service
= zero downtime during eight hour power outage

PANGAEA’s main equipment rooms are protected by generators. Therefore, we are pleased to report that our
customers experienced zero downtime during last week’s power outage that affected downtown
Rutherfordton.

2016 Scholarship Recipients
Fiber Optic 1-2-3 Training CoursePANGAEA Internet offered two $750 scholarships to attend a 4-day Fiber Optic 1-2-3 training course in July. Scholarship recipient Ryan Gordon had this to say, “Having completed the course, I now have a through understanding of the concepts and theories that lay the foundation for fiber-optics, in addition to the practical knowledge needed for installation.”

Scholarship recipients Ryan Gordon (left) and Jared Monath (right) with Ron Walters, PANGAEA Internet’s Executive Director.

We appreciate all of our customers, especially those we have served for 10+ years:

Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce
Gaming Tickets, Inc.
Isothermal Community College
Main Street Insurance Group
Polk County Government
Polk County Public Library
Polk County Public Schools
Town of Tryon
Tryon Daily Bulletin

Preparing to install one of our many new customers!

3rd Annual Customer Appreciation Night
Thank you to all that attended our event.
Click any photo to view the full album.









 

PANGAEA Wi-Fi is available in the downtown areas of Chimney Rock Village, Lake Lure, Saluda & Tryon. Coming in September to Harmon Field and Columbus.

Testimonial Winner
Congratulations to
Kathy Toomey of New View Realty
Kathy received a
$200 Invoice Credit


See what Kathy and other customers have to say on the Testimonial Page of our website.

PANGAEA Customer Benefits

Submit a Testimonial
Take a few minutes and tell us how PANGAEA Internet has impacted your organization. Every quarter, all customers who have submitted testimonials will be entered into a drawing to receive a $200 invoice credit. (Click here to participate.)

 

Refer a Customer
PANGAEA Internet is available to all commercial customers that are near our fiber route (Network Map). If a referral from a current PANGAEA customer results in a signed service agreement, we will provide the referring person with a $75 Amazon gift card! (Click here to submit your referral.)

 

Internet Speed Test
(Click HERE)

Board Officers

Jim Edwards, President
Joe Crowder, Secretary
Harry Grymes, Treasurer

Board Directors

Jeff Byrd
Steve Garrison
Marche Pittman
Russ Pitts

Staff

Ron Walters, Executive Director
Stu Davidson, Operations Director
Ken Griffin, Network Engineer
Carolyn Whitehead, Office Administrator

Contract Support

Jody Gill, CPA, Accounting & Reporting
Sean O’Connell, Network Technician


What’s Happening at PANGAEA Internet (June 2016)

 



 

PANGAEA Internet has partnered with the towns to provide public Wi-Fi for casual and temporary use – not to replace existing residential or business internet service.

PANGAEA Wi-Fi is available in the downtown areas of Chimney Rock Village, Lake Lure, Saluda & Tryon. Coming this summer to Harmon Field and Columbus.

Look for “PANGAEA Public Wi-Fi” under the Wi-Fi settings of your phone, tablet or laptop.

Click here to read our informational card.

New Customer Referral Program



PANGAEA Internet is available to all commercial customers that are near our fiber route (see our Network Map). If a referral from a current PANGAEA customer results in a signed service agreement, we will provide the referring person with a $75 Amazon gift card!!! Click here to submit your referral.

 

Click HERE to test your internet speed.

Board Officers

Jim Edwards, President
Joe Crowder, Secretary
Harry Grymes, Treasurer

Board Directors

Jeff Byrd
Steve Garrison
Marche Pittman
Russ Pitts

Staff

Ron Walters, Executive Director
Stu Davidson, Operations Director
Ken Griffin, Network Engineer
Carolyn Whitehead, Office Administrator

Contract Support

Jody Gill, CPA, Accounting & Reporting
Sean O’Connell, Network Technician

The “VAN-GAEA” has arrived . . .

If you spot the “VAN-GAEA” in your area, text a photo to staff@e-polk.org and we will send you a colorful PANGAEA T-Shirt!

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY

APPLICATION DEADLINE – JUNE 6, 2016

PANGAEA Internet is offering scholarships to Polk and Rutherford county residents to attend Fiber Optic Splicing training to be held July 19 – 22, 2016 in Spartanburg, SC.

Visit https://pangaea.us/pangaea-scholarship-program-and-application/ to learn more and submit your application.

Testimonial Winner

Congratulations to
Tom Roberson of City Computer
Tom received a
$200 Invoice Credit

See what Tom and other customers have to say on the Testimonial Page of our website.
If you haven’t already submitted a customer testimonial, please take a few minutes and give us your feedback. Just click this link and provide a few sentences regarding how PANGAEA Internet has impacted your organization. The drawing is conducted quarterly.

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Facebook

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LinkedIn

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PANGAEA Internet Public Wi-Fi Network Expanding

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PANGAEA Internet Public Wi-Fi Network Expanding

TRYON, NC / April 13, 2016 As part of its continuing commitment to enhance economic development and improve the quality of life in our community, PANGAEA Internet (PANGAEA), the leading commercial provider of high-speed fiber optic internet service for Polk and Rutherford Counties, is preparing to expand its efforts to deliver Public Wi-Fi in the PANGAEA service area.

After a successful pilot project in downtown Tryon last year, a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) enabled PANGAEA Public Wi-Fi to expand to the downtown business districts of Chimney Rock Village, Lake Lure, and Saluda. This network expansion was completed on March 31st with such efficiency that grant funds remained, allowing PANGAEA to extend Public Wi-Fi to downtown Columbus and Tryon’s Harmon Field. Work on those projects will begin this summer.

“We are pleased to bring PANGAEA Public Wi-Fi to Tryon, Chimney Rock Village, Lake Lure, Saluda and soon to downtown Columbus and Harmon Field,” said Ron Walters, Executive Director of PANGAEA Internet. “By coming in under budget on the initial network, we are able to extend the network to these additional locations.” Walters pointed out that there is no charge to use PANGAEA Public Wi-Fi in any of the areas where it is available.

“I am amazed by the performance and high usage of this network,” said Stu Davidson, PANGAEA’s Operations Director. “By carefully planning our equipment placement to maximize signal strength and coverage, we are able to serve large numbers of users very efficiently.”

PANGAEA Public Wi-Fi is made possible by a partnership between ARC, the Towns, and PANGAEA to purchase and deploy the equipment necessary to build the network. PANGAEA provides the ongoing Wi-Fi service as part of its nonprofit community focus. Currently, PANGAEA Public Wi-Fi averages over 2,500 users per week. The network is prepared to support increased usage as warmer weather brings an increase in tourism to the region.

Residents and visitors to these communities can access the network by simply selecting “PANGAEA Public Wi-Fi” from the Wi-Fi settings of their phone, tablet, or laptop. After selecting “continue,” users will be transferred to the Towns’ web page.


PANGAEA Internet (pan-GEE-ah) is a non-profit provider of “Speed of Light” fiber optic internet service. Our network currently serves customers at more than 150 locations across Polk and Rutherford Counties, including public school districts, city and county governments, health care facilities, and local businesses. Visit us online at www.pangaea.us, or contact Executive Director Ron Walters at 828-859-3072.

 

 

 

What’s Happening at PANGAEA Internet (March 2016)

 



 

Read more about PANGAEA Internet’s community impact, Wi-Fi and network projects, board members and more in our 2015 Community Impact Report (click here).

Fiber Optics are “Green”
Fiber is good for the environment. The requirements to send an electrical signal over miles of wiring is typically dozens of times the amount of energy needed to send a brief flash of light over the same distance via fiber optical cabling. A lower energy requirement means a lower carbon footprint and lower price of operation, which can be enjoyed by network owners and their customers alike.
 

Click HERE to test your internet speed.

New Customer Referral Program



PANGAEA Internet will launch an exciting new customer referral program on April 1, 2016.

Program details are coming soon.

Board Officers

Jim Edwards, President
Joe Crowder, Secretary
Harry Grymes, Treasurer

Board Directors

Jeff Byrd
Steve Garrison
Marche Pittman
Russ Pitts

Staff

Ron Walters, Executive Director
Stu Davidson, Operations Director
Ken Griffin, Network Engineer
Carolyn Whitehead, Office Administrator

Contract Support

Jody Gill, CPA, Accounting & Reporting
Sean O’Connell, Network Technician

Congratulations
Breakthrough Chiropractic Clinic, PA
and
Foothills Animal Clinic!

Both are recent recipients of a PANGAEA Internet grant.
The grant funds assisted with installation costs for our “Speed of Light” fiber optic internet service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more about this program and submit an application on the Grant Application page of our website.

Testimonial Winners

Congratulations to our testimonial winners who received
a $200 Invoice Credit
Richard Hendricks of Tanner Companies, LLC
and
Keven Johnson of Wayne Wire Die Company

See what Richard, Keven and other customers have to say on the Testimonial Page of our website.
If you haven’t already submitted a customer testimonial, please take a few minutes and give us your feedback. Just click this link and provide a few sentences regarding how PANGAEA Internet has impacted your organization. The drawing is conducted quarterly.

Aerial Fiber Installation

Installation of aerial fiber along Highway 108 in Columbus has been completed and PANGAEA can now serve additional business customers between Polk County High School and Dr. Lonnie Lassiter’s Office in Columbus, NC. Two new customers are already enjoying our fast and reliable service: Midway Baptist Church and Jay’s Lawn Service (Avery Creek Nursery).

PANGAEA Internet’s “Speed of Light” network
makes virtually unlimited speeds possible!
Please contact us for a quote.

 

Scholarship Produces Quick Results

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PANGAEA Internet Scholarship Produces Quick Results

TRYON, NC / March 3, 2016 – In December, 2015, PANGAEA Internet (PANGAEA), the leading commercial provider of high-speed fiber optic internet service for Polk and Rutherford Counties, awarded scholarships for two local individuals to receive training in fiber optic splicing at a four-day course in Spartanburg, SC. The training has already made it possible for one of the recipients, Mr. T. J. Byers of Forest City, to launch a new career. Mr. Byers was hired as a communications technician with Integrated Electrical Services.

“Taking this class taught me the basics and gave me a competitive advantage because I knew how to terminate, splice and test fiber,” said Mr. Byers. “I hope to advance my career and pursue leadership opportunities in the future.” Byers also said that the course provided him with a strong foundation of the skills required to properly design, install, and maintain a fiber optic network.

Dana Conner of Conner Computer Consultants, Inc. of Rutherfordton, also received a scholarship and commented, “I had never had any hands on experience with terminating or testing fiber. This course provided a good basis for understanding those techniques and how to troubleshoot issues with fiber connections.”

According to Ron Walters, Executive Director of PANGAEA, fiber optic splicing technicians are in short supply in rural areas such as Polk and Rutherford Counties. “This shortage impacts the ability of internet service providers, telephone companies and cable companies to install, maintain, and repair their fiber optic infrastructures,” said Walters. The scholarships provided by PANGAEA gave recipients the opportunity to complete the fiber optic splicing training course, as well as earn professional certification through the Electronics Technicians Association.

PANGAEA sought scholarship applicants who possessed strong technical backgrounds, a demonstrated desire to learn, motivation to succeed in a demanding but rewarding field, and a clearly defined goal of using their new skills for professional development. The average annual pay of a fiber optic splicing technician is $56,000 or $26/hour, according to Indeed.com. “Job training is a high priority in Polk and Rutherford Counties,” said Walters. “With the decline in our community’s traditional industries, acquiring the skills needed to enter well-paying technology-based careers is tremendously beneficial. Providing these scholarships is a natural part of PANGAEA’s mission, which serves to enhance economic development and improve the quality of life in our area.”

To learn more about PANGAEA’s non-profit mission to deliver affordable, reliable connectivity and services to our region, visit www.pangaea.us.

 


PANGAEA Internet (pan-GEE-ah) is a non-profit provider of high-speed fiber optic internet service. Our network consists of 240 miles of fiber optic lines and currently serves 130 customers across Polk and Rutherford Counties, including public school districts, city and county governments, health care facilities, and local businesses. Visit us online at www.pangaea.us, or contact Executive Director Ron Walters at 828-859-3072 or ronw@e-polk.org.
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Scholarship Opportunity – Fiber Optic Splicing


SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Want the Potential to Earn Up to $86K/Year?

PANGAEA is a nonprofit internet service provider in Polk and Rutherford counties and is offering two scholarships to attend Fiber Optic Splicing training on December 14-17, 2015 in Spartanburg, SC.

APPLY BY NOVEMBER 13, 2015

Visit https://pangaea.us/pangaea-scholarship-program-and-application/ to learn more and submit your application.

Questions: Ron Walters
PANGAEA Executive Director
ronw@e-polk.org

This four-day class has been developed with 16 hours of classroom and 16 hours of hands-on skills labs to provide practical understanding and skills required to properly design, install, and maintain fiber optic networks.

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What’s Happening at PANGAEA Internet (September 2015)

 



 

PANGAEA Internet Free Public Wi-Fi Improving Quality of Life

PANGAEA is successfully deploying free Wi-Fi in our local communities. Click here to read more about this exciting project.

When it comes to bandwidth, fiber is king. A single fiber is capable of transmitting 250 million phone conversations every second. One mile of fiber weighs about one quarter of a pound, whereas copper cable with the same information-carrying capacity would weigh 33 tons.
 

Click HERE to test your internet speed.

Customer Referral Program



PANGAEA Internet is available to all commercial customers that are near our fiber route (see our Network Map). If a referral from a current PANGAEA customer results in a signed service agreement, we will credit your PANGAEA invoice $200!!! Click this link to fill out the form.

Board Officers

Jim Edwards, President
Joe Crowder, Secretary
Harry Grymes, Treasurer
Board DirectorsChris Braund
Jeff Byrd
Marche Pittman
Russ Pitts
StaffRon Walters, Executive Director
Stu Davidson, Operations Director
Ken Griffin, Network Engineer
Carolyn Whitehead, Office Administrator
Contract SupportJody Gill, CPA, Accounting & Reporting
Sean O’Connell, Network Technician

Installation Grant Awarded

First United Methodist Church of Forest City
is a recent recipient of a PANGAEA Internet grant.
The grant funds assisted with installation costs for our “Speed of Light” fiber optic internet service.

Read more about this program and submit an application on the Grant Application page of our website.

Testimonial Winner

Congratulations to our third quarter winner of a
$200 Invoice Credit
John Hugill
Medical Records Retrieval
Mill Spring, NC

See what John and our other customers have to say on the Testimonial Page of our website. If you haven’t already submitted a customer testimonial, please take a few minutes and give us your feedback. Just click this link and provide a few sentences regarding how PANGAEA Internet has impacted your organization. The drawing is conducted quarterly.

Rutherford Middle and High Schools
Upgraded to 10 Gig!

In 2007, PANGAEA constructed a 147 mile fiber optic network that connected all 22 Rutherford County school locations with the Cool Springs administration building in Forest City. Each connection had a transmission speed of one (1) GBPS (gigabit per second). We are proud to announce that every Rutherford County middle and high school has now been upgraded to ten (10) GBPS – a transmission speed once reserved for large urban areas.

PANGAEA’s “Speed of Light” network makes virtually unlimited speeds possible! Please contact us for an upgraded quote.

Introducing
Ken Griffin, Network Engineer


We are pleased to announce that Ken Griffin has joined the PANGAEA team! Ken has over 20 years of information technology support and management experience. As a network engineer he is responsible for all network equipment, including planning, design, installation, maintenance and repair. Ken was most recently an Information Technology Director and has held previous positions as a Computer Systems Administrator, a Wide Area Network Administrator, an Infrastructure Administrator and a Team Leader with various companies in North Carolina. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from UNC – Asheville and lives in Tryon with his wife and daughter.

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LinkedIn

Website
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PANGAEA Internet Free Public Wi-Fi Improving Quality of Life

Facebook Cover 2015

 
TRYON, NC / August 21, 2015 – PANGAEA Internet (PANGAEA), the leading commercial provider of high-speed fiber optic internet service for Polk and Rutherford Counties, is a non-profit company that is focused on the community, not shareholders. As part of this commitment, PANGAEA is involved in several projects designed to enhance economic development, improve the quality of life, and create a broad platform of innovation enabling underserved areas.

Among these projects are multiple efforts to deliver free public Wi-Fi in the PANGAEA service area. After a successful pilot project brought free Wi-Fi to downtown Tryon, a recent grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission has expanded the project to the downtown business districts of Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, and Saluda. As shown in the accompanying graph, use of the service has grown dramatically during the summer tourist season.WiFi Users May11-Aug17 2015

“Saluda, Lake Lure, and Chimney Rock Village share a business and tourism corridor,” said Ron Walters, Executive Director of PANGAEA Internet. “They are a hub of tourism in the region and a key driver of employment and economic activity. Our free public Wi-Fi network provides a convenient, reliable, and economical alternative to cellular data services.”

With this expansion of public Wi-Fi, more than 11,000 users have connected to PANGAEA Wi-Fi in the last month. Stu Davidson, PANGAEA’s Operations Director, said “the utilization and performance of this network has far exceeded my expectations. The communities have provided valuable input into the network design and I’m really pleased by the impact it is having.”

Another ongoing Wi-Fi project called “Connect” is a collaboration between PANGAEA, Facebook, the Rutherford County Schools, and the towns of Forest City, Rutherfordton and Spindale. Connect provides free public Wi-Fi service to areas with high concentrations of students, enabling them to take full advantage of Rutherford County Schools’ 1:1 program, which has provided a notebook computer to each middle and high school student since 2011.

Since the project launched, Connect now provides service to more than 5700 users each month. “Connect and our community collaboration continues to invest in our region’s students,” said Walters. “With the increasing number of users we have seen since we began this project, it’s clear that our efforts are making a difference in our communities.”

 


 

PANGAEA Internet (pan-GEE-ah) is a non-profit provider of high-speed fiber optic internet service. Our network currently serves customers at over 150 locations across Polk and Rutherford Counties, including public school districts, city and county governments, health care facilities, and local businesses. Visit us online at www.pangaea.us, or contact Executive Director Ron Walters at 828-859-3072.

 

Ron Walters’ Presentation at the 2015 Broadband Communities Summit

 

Broadband Is Like Oxygen to Rural America – What Technology and Companies Will Provide It?
Will Gigabit networks or wireless services best meet the needs of the nation’s rural communities? What options are rural communities missing without good-quality broadband? And when commercial providers are in short supply, how do non-profits, cooperatives and municipal broadband providers help fill the void?