Clips/ Feature Article

Richmond Adds Fast Net Access
By Richard Trombly | The Berkshire Beacon : April 2000

RICHMOND -- In January 2000, Richmond Telephone began offering internet service through Richmond Networx, a subsidiary based in Pittsfield.

As the Berkshires become ever more reliant on the internet for commerce, culture, and recreation, a frequent question among household, home office, and small business customers is how to get high-speed internet connections. The answer may be at hand for many Berkshire residents.

Richmond Networx offers local, long distance, and dial-up internet service to the whole of Berkshire county.

Richmond Networx announced that they expect to add high-speed internet connections to their range of services available to Berkshire County residents by June 2000.

For two years, Richmond Telephone has been providing internet service through a partnership with Taconic Net, another Internet Service Provider (ISP.) Since January, Richmond Networx expanded its ser vice to become an ISP and is presently providing Internet connections to nearly 300 customers. At $18.95 monthly, their price for dial-up service comes in below (he common offering of $20.00 per month. Christa Proper, general manager of Richmond Networx, stated that it offered discount packages for subscribers to other telecom services.

"We are looking into all of the technology options but it looks like DSL is in the forefront," said Proper.

The slogan on the Richmond telephone directory states, "The small company with big connections." Some people might doubt that a family-owned local telephone company can compete in the high tech world of the internet That is not a concern for Anton Kaufer, president of sales and marketing and co-owner of Sequoia Internet, a Pittsfield-based internet website design company. Sequoia Internet subscribes to the local telephone and internet services of Richmond Networx.

"I switched to [Richmond Networx] for local phone service from Bell Atlantic because it was cheaper," said Kaufer. "For my dial-up service, I researched the options and this was the best and fastest around . I've been very happy with their service." Kaufer said that has looked forward to DSL service.

"I have Roadrunner service at home through my cable company but it's not available everywhere in the Berkshires nor is it available to business," said Kaumian.

"DSL lines are more secure for businesses and internet commerce." "Many of our customers have inquired about DSL," said Catherine Dullaghan, manager of marketing and customer service. "I think that the majority of offices in the Berkshires arc in homes and so many people are becoming involved with technology that demand will grow." o "Since 1999, we have gone from five to thirteen employees," said Proper. "To respond to our customers' needs, we expect to expand further" "We have been able to hire most of cur new employees locally," said Proper.

'Though we contracted some consulting outside the county, Berkshire County has developed its resources of local high-tech expertise." 'My grandfather and mother mentioned me," said Dullaghan, the daughter of Richmond Networx president, Lorinda Ackley-Mazur. "I hope my daughter win join the business when she is old enough. No matter how the industry changes, we'll still be around."