Mail Tribune Business - Fast Web hookups hit town

Document text

Fast Web hookups hit town Medford residents can buy service now By DAVID PRESZLER The high-speed hookups have arrived. Medford Internet and Infostructure announced Monday that "effective immediately" they are offering Internet access with download speeds of 256,000 (256K) bits per second -- more than five times faster than the valley's fastest previous access for residential users. The PeRKInet wireless service is priced at $29.95 per month -- $10 more than Medford Internet and Infostructure charge for dial-up access. The company will provide the hardware needed to get the high-speed access at no charge and is waiving its $99 setup fee for a limited time. "High-speed Internet service is increasingly becoming a critical part of the telecommunications landscape," Andy Spliethof, sales manager for the two companies, said in a news release. "By offering an affordably priced package to residents, we will be able to assure that the Medford area keeps pace with the technological evolution in the industry." Several other companies have plans to offer high-speed access and some already offer it to business customers at higher rates. But Medford Internet and Infostructure are the first to tout a service targeted at residential users. Spliethof said the two companies got 60 inquiries Monday alone and signed up 25 people for the service. The service will be offered in conjunction with WanTV and delivered in the same manner as the wireless cable television provider. The downstream will be transmitted to the customer's rooftop receiver and fed into the computer through the use of a cable modem and an Ethernet card. Upstream will be handled via telephone lines. The service can be ordered by calling Medford Internet at 773-5000, Infostructure at 488-1962 or WanTV at 772-9707. Today's Business Index Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA