March 28, 2024

Internet providers and software companies respond to Covid-19

A number of IT providers in Iowa took the FCC’s “Keep Americans Connected Pledge” to provide internet during this pandemic. The pledge is a commitment for the next 60 days to not terminate residential or small business accounts, waive late fees, and open wifi hotspots to those that need them.

IT providers in Iowa that took that pledge include:

BEVCOMM

Clear Lake Telephone Company

Farmers Mutual Co-Op

Long Lines Broadband

Northwest Communications Cooperative

Premier Communications

Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association

Centurylink

Mediacom

Cox

Verizon

US Cellular

Windstream

The companies are among the 185 nationwide that are committed to keep the country online. A full list of companies taking the pledge can be found here.

Telework software offers

Software giant Cisco is expanding free access to some of their software. Webex is Cisco’s popular virtual meeting software. According to the company in China alone Webex traffic is up 22 times than what it was prior to the outbreak of Covid-19. Cisco is also extending the 14 day free license for Umbrella, a cloud service, to 90-days for customers who contact the Cisco sales team.

Duo Security provides two factor authentication for devices and is offering a free license to new customers. Existing customers may expand their current numbers of users.

The Office of the Chief Information Officer of the State of Iowa as an organization is tasked with a focus on meeting the technology needs of all levels of government. This is not an endorsement of companies mentioned above. The OCIO offers this information to better inform the general public of some of the work being done and software available to keep Iowans connected.