— by Margie Doyle–
Times change, people change, but above all technology changes.
Stuart Baker, at Orcas Online, has seen his DSL customers, serviced through an agreement with CenturyLink, dwindling every year, as islanders chose other internet options such as wireless. Orcas Online serves over 1,000 customers, of whom about 20 were still on DSL this fall.
So when CenturyLink asked Baker and his partner Rick Boucher to re-up for a three-year contract this October, they decided to give it a pass, and informed their DSL clients that they’d no longer be serving them. For those who chose to remain with DSL, Orcas Online helped them sign up for services directly through Century Link.
Then they started getting calls from their wireless customers, asking if Orcas Online was going out of business. Baker was told that the wireless clients had been telephoned by CenturyLink, informing them that Orcas Online was going out of business.
Far from it, Baker says, “We’re out of the DSL business, but we’re still here for wireless installation and service, and other internet needs. We have our own infrastructure.”
Orcas Online is a WISP, or Wireless Internet Service Provider. WISPs tend to be in rural areas. “Wireless is far superior to DSL and it continues to improve; and every generation is far superior to the last one. Our network continues to improve.”
Orcas Online also repairs both PCs and MACs, hosts websites, provides wifi access and internet surf room and sells computer parts & supplies from their building at 254 North Beach Road, Eastsound.
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Upgrading from CL DSL to Orcas online’s WISP has been a godsend. And CenturyLink should be ashamed of spreading the rumor that OO is going out of business (if that is who was doing it)!
We have been very pleased both in the professionalism and quality that Orcas Online provides for our Streaming needs at Random Howse. Very greatiful the are here and engaged!!
Weʻve had Orcas Online wireless service for years and have NEVER been disappointed with their service. It is fast, their communications with us are timely, and we hope they are around for many more years.