CARLSBAD, Calif., June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT) subsidiary WildBlue, a provider of high-speed satellite Internet service, is bringing very affordable broadband directly to unserved rural households in the West and Midwest through funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act). Eligible customers, unserved by other broadband alternatives, can connect with 1 Mbps download speeds for only $39.95 per month. The new service package began selling June 3 and includes lifetime pricing for the customer.
The Recovery Act funds, administered through the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS), are helping create jobs in the U.S. by using local WildBlue dealers, installers, and U.S.-based customer care, and are stimulating economic activity among rural households that can now efficiently connect to online commerce and other resources. The program includes the following features:
- No charge for activation, equipment, or standard installation
- $39.95 monthly price
- 1 Mbps download speeds
- Free 24/7 tech support
“We believe the RUS program showcases one of the quickest and most cost effective ways to spur broadband adoption in rural areas,” said Tom Moore, president of WildBlue. “This is a great opportunity to connect our rural and unserved citizens with the WildBlue service.”
The one-time offer to sign up for the low-cost service remains in effect until WildBlue’s Recovery Act funding is exhausted. To learn more about eligibility and service startup, call 888-421-0882 or go to www.wildblue.com/usa.
WildBlue is the premier Ka-band satellite broadband service provider in the United States. Now a wholly owned subsidiary of ViaSat, the stage is set for accelerated growth, increased performance, and expansion of the WildBlue broadband service using ViaSat next-generation network technology, featuring the high-capacity satellite ViaSat-1, scheduled to launch this summer.
