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The Browser Newsletter - Aptitude Internet
MAKING THE INTERNET BETTER, ONE CONNECTION AT A TIME
ISSUE NO. 8 APRIL 2024

ARLO FOR MORE THAN JUST SECURITY

Aptitude now offers convenient, smart-home video security with our Protector and Guardian plans that allows our subscribers to monitor their premises 24/7. While many appreciate the peace of mind afforded by round-the-clock, cloud based video monitoring – others have found more unique uses for their Arlo system.

A quick search for Arlo doorbell video camera through any of the popular video hosting platforms will turn up a plethora of user submitted clips. Video doorbells aren’t just for motion activated package detection, or monitoring of guests when you’re away from home. Some users use their video doorbells as a kind of video voicemail – ringing the doorbell
and leaving a clip for the friends and families to view later. One social media influencer has used the video doorbell for her content, starting each video by pressing the button and saying “hello mother!”

Another user has taken advantage of their video doorbell to keep an eye on the wildlife, from snoopy visits by the neighborhood cat, to the frolicking and prancing of deer unaware their rosebush munching antics are being caught on camera.

Learn more about Arlo at aptitudeinternet.com/homesecurity or give us a call at 573-755-0555.

Arlo Home Security - Aptitude Internet

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

Phelps County (Rolla & St James)

  • Installs are being scheduled
  • Final network troubleshooting
  • Location Drops
  • Splicing is being completed

St James (I-44 North)

  • Installs are being scheduled by our Customer Care
    Team as soon as available

South St. Francois

  • Splicing is underway

Northeast St. Francois

  • Placing anchors and hanging strand
  • Work is current and ongoing

South Jefferson

  • Work continuing from last month

We will also be sending regular construction updates directly to your inbox if you are signed up for notification.

Once all construction, including fiber drops, are complete in your service area, our Customer Care Team will contact you directly to schedule an installation appointment if you are signed up for notification.

CENTRAL HIGH E-SPORTS TOURNAMENT 2024

Last month, our company had the privilege of sponsoring the Central High School E-sports Expo for the second year in a row. The Expo was an incredible event that brought together gamers, e-athletes and video game enthusiasts from several surrounding area schools. Alongside our awesome partners, we were thrilled to be a part of this unforgettable day, which celebrated the increasing popularity of E-sports and the tremendous excitement experienced by the E-sports community.

The expo was a real “the future is now” spectacle that showcased the keen hand eye coordination and calloused thumb pads of the participants. Our team set up a retro gaming station, complete with classic consoles like Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and Atari, allowing attendees to relive the nostalgia of their parents’ childhood gaming experiences. You can check out a highlight reel from the event on our Facebook page. We extend our congratulations to the tournament winners and our gratitude to everyone who made this day truly unforgettable.

central high school esports expo in park hills, missouri
Photo: Aptitude Creative Director Casey Reeves plays Tecmo Bowl with an Expo attendee on a Nintendo emulator.

COZY UP TO YOUR FEED FOR FIBER-SIDE CHATS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

In March, we debuted the first episode in our “Fiber Side Chats” series, hosted by our founder and CEO, Cole Smith. Get ready for an insightful and captivating exploration of the internet industry, organizational dynamics, and personal growth, all drawn from Cole’s vast wealth of experience and expertise.

Our inaugural series kicks off with a deep dive into the world 
of E-sports, showcasing the visionary leadership of Aptitude’s own Cole Smith, Levi Hennrich, and Corey Gibson. Join us as we take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reminiscing about the early days of E-sports and the industry’s humble beginnings.

This engaging series is presented in a podcast-style format, 
allowing for an immersive conversational experience. The hosts, drawing upon their personal experiences, delved into discussions about how gaming has transformed since their childhood days. They shared anecdotes about interacting with students who, despite their passion for gaming, were unfamiliar with the concept of a LAN party. We look forward to building upon this foundation and continuing to deliver insightful and entertaining content through the “Fiber Side Chats” series.

FOLLOW US @APTITUDE INTERNET ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA

AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM (ACP) WIND-DOWN UPDATE - APRIL 2024

Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the anticipated conclusion of funding availability for the Affordable Connectivity Program, a government program that provided a discount on internet services for eligible customers.

We have notified all of our customers currently receiving an ACP discount of this upcoming change via email, including how it will affect billing in the
future. If you are an ACP beneficiary and have not heard from us regarding these changes, we encourage you to contact us if you have any questions.

While this change indicates a lack of federal funding available to our customers, we are actively investigating alternatives, including programs run by the state of Missouri Broadband Development office and 501c3 agencies dedicated to assisting consumers to
defray the costs of high-speed internet connectivity.

We will also continue to do our part to make the 
internet a better place by remaining committed to no-contract service at affordable and competitive rates.

In the event that we discover a comparable alternative to the ACP discount, we will be sure to inform 
eligible customers as soon as possible.

If you have any questions you can always give us a 
call at 573-755-0555. 

This article has been republished from our March 
2024 newsletter for anyone who may have missed the information.

Charlie Weaver Aptitude Internet
Photo: Charlie Weaver strikes a pose at the St. James office after a long day of completely reorganizing the warehouse.
Charlie Weaver Aptitude Internet
Photo: Charlie Weaver poses for a photo shoot in the park with his girlfriend Tanya and their dogs.
Photo: Charlie Weaver in his biker duds outside the new office.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: CHARLIE WEAVER

Logistics Manager

CHARLIE’S QUICK FACTS

Rides: A Motorcycle
Favorite Hobby: Fishing
Loves: To travel & volunteer
Favorite Celeb: Guy Fieri
Now Playing: Overwatch or Diablo
Currently Building: A new house

Charlie Weaver joined the Aptitude Internet team in 2013. At that time, Aptitude operated a series of wireless internet sites that served a small community of only 230 customers. Back then, the entire team could fit comfortably inside a single, open-floor room at one of the original offices.

Like many in the company, he started as an Installation Technician and has since served in many roles and taken on a variety of responsibilities. During monthly team meetings it is not out of the ordinary to hear him refer to himself as either HR-Charlie, or Logistics-Charlie, indicating the notional hat he is wearing when delivering important information. He currently serves in an official capacity as Logistics Manager, a role critical to operations that he envisions shaping and leading as the company continues to expand.

Weaver was born in St. Louis but moved to Farmington at an early age. He grew up and went to school with the company founders, recalling when they had their first high-school party, an inexplicably responsible event where they spent an equal amount of time tidying up afterwards. During his teens, he traveled extensively citing Colorado and Alaska among his top favorite places. He once visited famed horror author Stephen King’s Bangor mansion without even getting in any car accidents.

When asked what he does in his free time, Weaver cheerfully remarked that he doesn’t have a lot of free time. Instead, his off-hours are greatly dedicated to volunteerism, especially with the AMVET Riders of Farmington where he serves as President. His dedication to volunteering is a shining example of the value of community service Aptitude was founded upon. 

Despite this hectic schedule, Weaver has no worries about 
his work-life balance. “I never feel like I’m punching the clock” Weaver said of his hours at Aptitude. He says that he loves the mission of bringing high speed internet to the rural communities, bringing him satisfaction above and beyond a simple paycheck.

Weaver met his now girlfriend Tanya, a fellow AMVET rider, 
during his volunteer service. They recently posed together for a lovely couple’s photo shoot in the park, featuring their canine buddies which you can see more of if you’re friends on Facebook.

While most Weaver’s responsibilities are behind the scenes, 
you can always benefit from his hard work every time you hop on your internet by Aptitude. If you’d like to see more of him, keep an eye out for job openings where you can apply for the chance to be interviewed for as long as he wears the hat of HR-Charlie.

COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR APRIL 24

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