Document text
42 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, December 30, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 21, 2004 Internet CDS to shut down Western Telephone’s abrupt closure leaves thousands of customers without Internet service By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune Medford-based Western Telephone company will shut down its Internet CDS operations at year’s end, leaving thousands of its Internet customers scrambling for a new service provider. Western Telephone informed its customers of the pending shutdown via e-mail Monday afternoon, leaving some business customers worried they may start the new year without e-mail or Web page service. The e-mail says the company did not intend to shut its doors so abruptly. Company officials had been in discussions with another Internet service provider to take over the business and provide what Western Telephone said would have been a "seamless transition." However, Western Telephone and the unidentified ISP failed to reach an agreement, leading to Monday’s announcement. The announcement provided no further details as to why Western Telephone decided to close. Advertisement Western Telephone workers were not answering the telephone Monday evening, instead taking voice messages or directing customers with questions to contact the company only by e-mail. Western Telephone owner Cleve Tooker did not respond to requests for comment Monday. He could not be reached by telephone. The announcement came as a shock to some clients, mainly businesses who are afraid they could lose critical Web page or e-mail access if they cannot get a new provider on line in time. "We’re not in a crisis mode yet, but it looks like it could be a crisis," said Matt Conens, director of marketing at Consumer Credit Counseling Service in Medford. Western Telephone suggested its customers sign on with Qwest because Western Telephone employees believe Qwest has a reliable service that can handle the volume of switch-overs. Conens, who is used to telephoning across town for technical questions, said he talked to two Qwest representatives in other regions of the country and hung up unsure of his non-profit company’s electronic future. "To go from a company that seemed to have good local support and customer service to a technological black hole certainly is very disturbing," Conens said. Internet CDS began operation in March 1995 and reached its peak in dial-up subscribers at about 17,000 customers in 2000. The company began offering the more popular broadband service five years ago. In October 2003, Internet CDS dropped its dial-up service to 14,800 customers. At the time, Tooker said the company was shedding its dial-up service to concentrate on more profitable DSL, T-1 and wireless broadband services. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Citibank Student Loans Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems