Freedom Calls  > General Information

MT Freedom Calls Contact:
Website: freedomcalls.vision.net
Phone Number: 1-877-449-8638
Email: freedomcalls@vision.net

Program Description & Press Release
(Great Falls, Montana) — Imagine participating in the birth of your child—from a distance of nearly 8,000 miles. What about saying “I do” to your new spouse while stationed a continent away? And what about all those other milestones—birthdays, anniversaries or a child’s first straight-A report card—that happen while our service people are deployed overseas?

Montana-based Vision Net is providing a means for servicemen and women to participate is such events—at no charge—through their videoconferencing services. The video calls, which allow families to connect face-to-face in real time, are part of a larger, national effort known as Freedom Calls.

With the tagline “Deploying state-of-the-art technology to keep our troops in Iraq in touch with their families,” the Freedom Calls Foundation is a nonprofit organization created by John B. Harlow II and Edward Bukstel and supported by private and corporate donations. Troops in Afghanistan are also eligible to participate.

For Vision Net—with offices in Great Falls, Billings and Missoula—the decision to get involved was obvious. “This is such a wonderful program, and we’re absolutely thrilled to be able to connect servicemen and women with their families here in Montana,” said Vision Net General Manager Rob Ferris. The company’s more than 180 videoconferencing locations statewide are available for use by the Freedom Calls program. When combined with the other Montana Freedom Calls partners, there are more than 300 available locations.* In addition, Vision Net will coordinate the myriad of details these calls entail.

Vision Net Video Manager Kris Harrison noted, however, that while his company is prepared to do everything it can to facilitate the calls, there are hurdles to overcome. “We’re talking about significant time differences, overseas locations that may not be near a videoconferencing site, and troops that move with some regularity,” he said. “Our experience has been that these calls can and do happen; it just takes a bit of time and a lot of legwork.” Vision Net, he said, is committed to the cause. An initial first step is to get the word out to both troops and families.

Families interested in the Freedom Calls may contact Vision Net at 1-877-449-8638, or the Missoula Chamber Military Task Force. More information on Freedom Calls may be found at freedomcalls.org.

Freedom Call Information Line
1-877-449-VNET (8638)