Kit from the Whip City Tech Team (second from left) talks about cutting the cord with Westfield residents at the Senior Center Drop-in event last Tuesday. (Submitted photo)
by Dan Howard, General Manager, Westfield Gas and Electric
How can we help you? It’s a question we ask all the time at Westfield Gas +Electric and Whip City Fiber. We’re committed to providing great service and helping in every way we can. Do you already have our high-speed Whip City Fiber (WCF) internet service but haven’t canceled your cable subscription or“cut the cord”? Perhaps you don’t have our internet service yet but are planning for when you do? The Whip City Fiber Customer Care and Tech Teams are here to help you understand every aspect of how to cut the cord and save significant money along the way.
In many cases, Whip City Fiber customers are savingupwards of, and sometimes over, $100 per month once they cancel their current cable subscription. With a little planning,you can watch the same shows, movies, and sports you’ve always enjoyed and pocket those savings.
Whip City Fiber provides the perfect access to today’s entertainment. Movies, sports (including NESN), home improvement, travel, cable news,and cooking channels are all available through a subscription to a streaming service. Netflix, Hulu, and Playstation Vue are popular choices where you pay monthly for only the services that you choose. As a bonus,your entertainment is available to you wherever you have internet access.You can log in to watch on your phone, tablet, or laptop.
Many residents still want to watch local programming including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and PBSto view their news and other entertainment. For this you’ll need a digital antenna that picks up a high-definition signal which is broadcast over the air. These are much smaller than the antennas of years ago, can be placed inside, outside or in an attic. They have a one-time cost ranging between $30-$130. Most people in Westfield receive 20-25 stations with an antenna. Free installation of antennas for WCF customers iscurrently available.Most of the existing coaxial cable used in your home for television is re-used for this “over the air” alternative.
WCF is also offering telephone service for those who want to keep a home phone. Customers who choose this option can retain their current telephone number.
Frankly, it is impossible to cover all the details of saving money by cutting the cord in this column.That’s where our drop-in centers come in. The Whip City Fiber team is happy to have you stop by the drop-in centers located at our Business Office at 100 Elm Street or at the WG+E Operations Center at 40 Turnpike Industrial Road. We have full demonstration spaces set up where you can see what is involved with a WCF installation, an HD antenna, and explore streaming options. Come by anytime Monday through Friday during normal business hours and our Customer Care team is ready to help.
Working with the Westfield Senior Center, we have also scheduled drop-in hours at their amazing facility on Noble Street. Come in for an overview of Whip City Fiber and one-on-one assistance from the Whip City Tech Team from 10:30 a.m.-noon on the following Tuesdays; April 25th, May 16th, and May 23rd. In the near future, we will be offering a drop in space at beautiful Amelia Park too. We’ll be announcing dates and times very soon.
The Whip City Tech Team is always available to help our customers and those who are considering signing up for our service. They can assist in setting up a streaming device, install an antenna or phone, and generally answer any questions you may have. They can be reached at 413-485-1204. Their services are offered free of charge.
We are gearing up for an extremely busy construction year.Whip City Fiber will be passing by thousands of Westfield residences by year end. More information will follow next month.
For more information about Whip City Fiber, check out our website at www.whipcityfiber.com, drop us an email at [email protected] or give us a call at 413-572-0100.
