Marlon Schafer honored

On the tenth anniversary of its founding, the Wireless Internet Service Provider Association (WISPA) honored Marlon Schafer of Odessa as one of their founding board of directors.

At a panel keynote session at WISPAPALOOZA 2014, WISPA's annual trade show, Schafer reminisced with four other founding board members about the motivations that led to the founding of WISPA, and some of the association's early days. The other board members, Rick Harnish, Matt Larsen, Bob Moldashel, and John Scrivner, moderated by Patrick Leary, cited Schafer's pioneering use of wireless technology for Internet access in rural areas as an inspiration to many.

One of Schafer's significant contributions to WISPA and the Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) industry were his many trips to Washington D.C. with other WISPA members to testify at various government agencies, including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). "As a working WISP that's actually providing Broadband Internet service in rural areas, Marlon had credibility when he testified" recalls Steve Stroh, a long time observer of the WISP industry. "The FCC is charged with promoting the availability of affordable broadband Internet in rural areas, but WISPs are already doing so every day, and Marlon's appearances helped the FCC see that WISP service is a viable option for rural customers."

Schafer founded Odessa Office Equipment in 1995 to sell and service copiers and other office machines. In 1997 Schafer changed the focus of the company to providing dialup Internet services (modems over phone lines). Today Odessa Office Equipment provides broadband wireless internet access, using fixed wireless (microwave) technology to residences, businesses, and farms over a 10,000 square mile area including portions of Lincoln, Grant, Adams, Douglas and Spokane counties to more than 800 customers.