Building a Community-First WISP: Insights from AirBridge Broadband

Building a Community-First WISP: Insights from AirBridge Broadband

You know those conversations that just stick with you? Well, we just had one of those on the IoT Pulse podcast with Elijah Zeta from AirBridge Broadband, and we can’t stop thinking about it. Seriously, this isn’t your typical “big telecom” story – it’s something way more special.

Small Town, Big Dreams: The AirBridge Story

Okay, first, let us paint you a picture of where this is all happening, because it’s pretty wild. We’re talking about North Central Idaho, where the entire county (which is bigger than Rhode Island!) has exactly one stoplight. And get this – they only installed it so kids in driver’s ed would know what a stoplight looks like! I’m not even kidding. The nearest Walmart is a casual two-hour drive away. That’s the kind of remote we’re talking about.

Back in 2017, if you lived out there, your internet options were… well, let’s call them limited. You could pay $40 a month for a whopping 1 Mbps connection, and some folks were still stuck with 512 Kbps. For reference, that’s like trying to drink a milkshake through a coffee stirrer – technically possible, but painfully slow.

This is where AirBridge comes in, and honestly, their approach to changing this situation is what got us so excited. Day one, they show up and say, “Hey, how about 10 Mbps for that same $40?” That’s literally 10 times faster for the same price. And now? They’re pushing speeds up to 100 Mbps. The transformation is incredible.

The Secret Sauce: It’s All About the People

Here’s where things get really interesting. You’d think running an ISP across an area this big would require a massive team, right? Nope. AirBridge is doing it all with a tight, well-trained team. When Kirill (podcast co-host) mentioned this during the podcast, I could hardly believe it. Most WISPs their size have double the staff.

So how do they pull it off? Elijah shared some fascinating insights about their approach. They’re super methodical about creating what he calls “repeatable systems.” Think about it like this: every tower they build (mostly 40-footers, with a couple of 80 and 90-foot exceptions) follows a similar blueprint. Every customer interaction follows the same principles. It’s like they’ve created this perfect recipe and they just keep using it.

But here’s what really blew me away – the tech stuff. They’re not just throwing up any old equipment. They’ve got this carefully chosen combination of Ubiquiti radios (paired with these apparently amazing RF Elements horns) and Microtik for routing. And they’re looking at this new 6 GHz spectrum space that’s opening up, but they’re being really thoughtful about it. As Elijah put it, they’d rather wait a bit longer and make the right choice than jump in and regret it later.

Community First (No, Really – They Mean It)

You know how most ISPs have that “not our problem” attitude about anything beyond their equipment? AirBridge is the complete opposite. Let me give you some examples that had us smiling during the interview:

• Someone’s new Alexa won’t connect to WiFi? They’ll come help set it up.
• Having trouble with your Roku? They’re there.
• Need help with your printer? Yep, they do that too.

And here’s the kicker – they don’t charge extra for any of this. When’s the last time you heard of an ISP doing that?

But wait, it gets better. They’re providing free internet to:

• Local churches
• Volunteer fire departments (and by the way, almost all their emergency services are volunteer-based)
• Rural EMS
• City facilities
• Public parks

And our favorite part? Their offices. When Kirill visited them, he was expecting some corporate setup with elevators and cubicles. Instead, he found this welcoming storefront where people just walk in, pay their bills (sometimes by check!), and stay for a 20-minute chat about life.

The Real Human Touch

You want to know what really stands out? The way they handle customer service. No endless phone trees, no overseas call centers. When you call AirBridge, you’re talking to someone who lives 30 minutes down the road. Someone who shops at the same grocery store as you. Someone who probably sees you at the local rodeo or the Kamiah barbecue days.

Elijah told us this great story about how they have customers who sometimes forget this and treat them like a big, faceless corporation. He’s like, “Dude, we live here! We eat our own dog food!” (Tech speak for using your own product – and yes, almost everyone at AirBridge uses their own internet service).

Learning from the Ground Up

The way Elijah got to where he is today is pretty inspiring too. He started out literally in the trenches – digging holes for towers, climbing up in 20-degree weather to install equipment, the whole nine yards. Now he’s their network engineer, but having that field experience gives him this amazing perspective on everything they do.

When we asked him about advice for young people wanting to get into the field, he shared something really valuable. He said it’s not just about learning to use the technology – it’s about understanding how it works. In his words: “Just because you know how to use the technology doesn’t mean you know how the technology works.”

Looking Ahead (With Some Good Old-Fashioned Wisdom)

AirBridge balances innovation with responsibility. Yes, they’re looking at cutting-edge tech like 6 GHz spectrum and 60 GHz wave gear. But they’re not just chasing the next shiny thing. Every decision is made with their community in mind.

Elijah shared this great piece of wisdom about building towers. Early on, they’d build something and then a year later have to completely retrofit it because they hadn’t thought big enough about what it could become. Now they plan for the future from day one.

Why This All Matters

In a world where we’re constantly hearing about big tech and artificial intelligence, AirBridge is proving that sometimes smaller is better. They’re showing that you can run a cutting-edge ISP while still maintaining that human touch. That you can be profitable while still being an integral part of your community.

You know what’s funny? When someone comes in with a cheaper introductory offer, their customers stick around. Why? Because they remember that time AirBridge helped their grandmother set up her Roku, or when they showed up on a Sunday to fix an issue.

We think that’s the big takeaway from our chat with Elijah – in a world that’s becoming increasingly automated and impersonal, there’s still immense value in being present, being part of your community, and genuinely caring about the people you serve.

What do you think about this approach? Would you pay a bit more for internet service if it came with this level of community involvement and personal care? Have you ever experienced anything similar with your local service providers?