About WWest Communications

Back in the early 1900’s telephones were still very new, especially in rural areas. The first phones in our area were called “farmer lines.” The phones ran on batteries, as there was no electricity in most houses. The actual telephone lines ran along fences, which sometimes resulted in a cow knocking out a conversation.

Instead of the individual private telephone lines that we have today, the farmers of the area shared a single phone line, called a “party line.” Each house was assigned a different ring, made up of various combinations of three longs and shorts. For example, the ring for one house would be two longs and a short, for another house two shorts and a long. “rubbernecking,” listening to other people’s conversations, was common. One very long continuous ring served as the 911 of the day, signalling help was needed.

Around 1910, a single long distance circuit was added, making it possible for one person at a time to call outside of the local area. But as telephones became more and more popular and people wanted to communicate with the outside world, neighbor-owned farmer lines were no longer sufficient.

Western Wahkiakum County Telephone Company incorporated in 1927, linking together about 200 subscribers from the farmer lines. The first switchboard was housed in Grays River in a small building on the east side of Meserve’s Store, with long distance access through Skamokawa.

The 20th Century is known for rapid technological advances, and the telephone industry is no different from the rest of the world. In 1968, microwave technology was introduced to the WWest Communications facilities. In 1989 WWest Communications entered the digital age with an upgrade to system-wide digital switching equipment. 1998 was another big year for WWest Communications, with the installation of fiber optic cabling, central office switching equipment upgrades, and long distance equal access.

In addition to state of the art technology for our service area, Wahkiakum West also offers Satellite Internet services in the surrounding areas outside of our network service area.

Wahkiakum West has expanded its optical fiber network all the way to every home and business in our service territory.  This means that, thanks to the optical connections directly to the home, now anyone can have incredible Broadband internet service with speeds up to 300 meg.  The current broadband service packages meet the needs of our customers today, and Wahkiakum West continues to invest in our network to be ready for the future.

STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
WWest Communications is the recipient of Federal financial assistance from the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). “USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.”
DECLARACIÓN DE NO DISCRIMINACIÓN
Conforme a las leyes federales y a los derechos civiles, reglamentos y políticas del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (U.S. Department of Agriculture, (USDA), se prohíbe a esta institución discriminar por motivo de raza, color, nacionalidad, sexo, edad, discapacidad y reprimir o tomar represalias por actividades realizadas en el pasado relacionadas con los derechos civiles. (No todos los principios de prohibición se aplican a todos los programas).

Las personas discapacitadas que requieran medios alternos para que se les comunique la información de un programa (por ejemplo, braille, letra agrandada, grabación de audio, lenguaje de señas estadounidense, etc.) deberán comunicarse con la agencia estatal o local responsable de administrar el programa o el TARGET Center del USDA al (202) 720-2600 (voz y TTY) o comunicarse con el USDA a través del Servicio Federal de Transmisión de Información al (800) 877-8339. La información del programa también está disponible en otros idiomas además del inglés.

Para presentar una queja por alegada discriminación, complete el formulario de quejas por discriminación del programa del USDA, AD-3027, que podrá encontrar en línea en http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Spanish_Form_508_Compliant_6_8_12_0.pdf o en cualquier oficina del USDA o escriba una carta dirigida al USDA que incluya toda la información solicitada en el formulario. Para solicitar una copia del formulario de presentación de quejas, comuníquese al (866) 632-9992. Envíe su formulario o carta completos al USDA por

correo:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

fax:
(202) 690-7442; o

correo electrónico:
program.intake@usda.gov.

Esta institución ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

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