b'SUCCESS STORYVIRTUAL ROADWAYSJeff Klause on delivering internet to rural and remote communitiesBy Nikita DayF or Jeff Klause, president and CEOAlongside technology, Klause also hadAs Klause entered his twenties, busi-of Voyageur Internet, there was noan interest in mechanics and cars. Fornesses were beginning to rely more start date marking his interesthim, theyre all one in the same: Itsheavily on computers, something in technologyit was simply alwayselectronics, its mechanical, its pro- previously reserved for hobbyists and emerging around him. I grew up ingramming, modifying things, makingthe wealthy. Those that didnt know between having two TV channels thatthings. Its just something that I didwere really lost, and so to get help, you tune into and a telephone for thesince I was a kidtaking things apart,you got the smart kid that you knew whole family, through the transitionseeing how they work, oftentimesthrough family and friends. That kid into technology, he says. There waswondering why things were made awas Klause. aways new technology coming out.certain way.By the time he was 21 years old, the business that he had started to help a few people with their computers and The internet is a roadwebsites now had a staff of 20 pro-grammers and technicians, vehicles and a lab that fixed computers and into a community,built networks. However, as com-panies became more self-sufficient through the 2010s, computers didnt and theres lot ofneed to be repaired as often as they used to, so Klause made the decision to transition out of IT. He begancommunities that dontfocusing more on one specificdivision in the company: delivering internet connections. have roads. I foresaw that the idea of connect-ing computers together was never going to go away, Klause says. While - Jeff Klause Voyageur Internet is a small company when compared to competitors like Want to make a living your way?Grow your local economy?We offer free guidance & resources to start your own co-operative.To learn more, visit yourwaytogether.ca306-382-441010INDIGENOUS PROSPERITYIssue #1, 2024'