Reedsburg Utilities Simplifies Video Operations with Whitepaw’s Hosted Streaming Model
Reedsburg Utilities, Wisconsin’s only municipally owned telecom provider, had been managing its own headend since the late 1990s. Over time, maintaining racks of receivers and dish farms became costly and complex — and the looming C-Band transition meant major new investments were required just to stay compliant.
“We had racks and racks of receivers and a 20-year veteran who handled everything. When he retired, we realized that kind of expertise is becoming rare. It was time to simplify.”
Network Manager, Reedsburg Utilities
At the same time, Reedsburg’s community leaders wanted to preserve traditional cable service for customers who preferred legacy TV, while also introducing a modern streaming option for new subscribers. That dual requirement made finding the right solution challenging.
Whitepaw Solutions partnered with Reedsburg Utilities to design a hosted streaming model that also supports the utility’s existing ClearQAM system — enabling both modern streaming and traditional cable from a single, flexible infrastructure.
“Whitepaw worked closely with us to make sure our legacy TV customers could still be supported while giving us a path forward for streaming. They helped us bridge that gap without sacrificing reliability.”
Network Manager, Reedsburg Utilities
This hybrid deployment allowed Reedsburg Utilities to eliminate its physical headend while still meeting the diverse needs of its customer base.
What changed in Reedsburg
Maintenance costs eliminated
“Our headend maintenance budget dropped to nearly zero,” Ken shared. “That alone was a huge win.”
Simplified staffing
“We no longer need a dedicated headend technician. Our team can focus on broadband growth and service quality.”
Reliable, proactive support
Whitepaw’s NOC team provides consistent communication — from channel updates to outage alerts — keeping operations seamless.
Ongoing partnership
Ken regularly connects with Whitepaw at industry events, maintaining a strong, collaborative relationship that goes beyond a vendor model.
Three things Reedsburg would tell you
- 01 Transition before your headend becomes a liability — waiting only makes it harder.
- 02 A hosted model frees your team to focus on broadband growth, not maintenance.
- 03 The right partner can help you maintain legacy services while evolving to meet modern customer expectations.
About Whitepaw Solutions
Whitepaw Solutions delivers innovative, hosted video and streaming solutions for broadband providers nationwide. With decades of experience serving community-based ISPs and utilities, Whitepaw helps operators simplify video delivery, reduce overhead, and evolve with confidence in a changing market.
Facing the same headend decision?
Tell us what your system looks like today and we’ll walk you through what a hosted model would mean for your team, your legacy customers and your budget.