Copyright © 2004 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved
News from Cherokee Nation
Copyright © 2004 CNO
TULSA, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation announces the formation of Cherokee ConneX, a high-speed wireless internet provider that will serve the greater Tulsa area.“Cherokee ConneX is creating a wireless internet canopy over the Tulsa metropolitan area,” said Ron Gates, Cherokee ConneX president. “Subscribers will have wireless internet access from their homes, cars, offices – anywhere in and around Tulsa. Installation of the communication technology is underway and we expect to begin offering wireless internet service to the Tulsa area in late summer or early fall of this year.”
Cherokee ConneX will offer high band-width business products like local loop, T-1, DS-3, and OC-3 in addition to wireless DSL for the home user.
“The wireless internet canopy pushes the Tulsa area to the technology frontier,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “The Cherokee Nation is proud to be a part of this progress.”
Cherokee ConneX will initially provide high-speed wireless internet service to all of Tulsa and surrounding communities like Catoosa, Owasso, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Jenks, Bixby and Broken Arrow, with plans to quickly expand to other communities in northeastern Oklahoma.
“This is another example of how the Cherokee Nation is involved in growing the economy in Oklahoma,” Smith said. “Through Cherokee ConneX, we will be providing a great service to local communities, bringing quality jobs to Oklahoma and growing the infrastructure for business development in rural Oklahoma in the future.”
“We also plan on taking wireless internet service to rural Oklahoma communities and have plans to create numerous jobs through ancillary services such as call centers,” Gates said.
To deliver this cutting edge service, the Cherokee Nation has assembled leaders from the technology industry.
“Our Cherokee ConneX partners include Hemphill Corporation and Mastermind Internet Services,” said M.A. Lechtenberger, manager of Cherokee Technologies, a tribal limited liability company of the Cherokee Nation that is the majority shareholder in Cherokee ConneX.
Tulsa-based Hemphill Corporation constructs, owns and operates communication towers in Tulsa and across the nation. Mastermind, also Tulsa-based, provides internet services, primarily to Oklahoma rural communities.
Cherokee ConneX will also have headquarters in Tulsa and will initially provide a dozen jobs. Gates expects that number could grow to as many as 100 jobs within a year.
For further information about the services and products Cherokee ConneX can provide, contact Ron Gates, by phone: 918-745-1919 or by e-mail: sales@cnxusa.com.
| Related contact information: |
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Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |