Press Release: Alachua Free-Net to Close Dial-Up Lines

Gainesville, FL, February 16, 2007:

Alachua Free-Net, Inc., a Florida 501(c)3 not for profit corporation, announced today that it would cease providing dial-up Internet access effective April 30, 2007. “When we began in 1994, dial-up service was only available in Alachua County to those associated with the University of Florida and the Internet was in its infancy,” said David Pokorney, a member of the Free-Net Board of Directors. “Today the Internet is an established part of life and Alachua county residents have many choices for Internet access, some of which are available free of charge. As a result the Free-Net Board believes that it is no longer necessary to provide dial-up services.”

Free-Net will continue to support existing email accounts and web hosting for its present users. The Free-Net computer recycling program will continue to operate through the Dignity Project. “Alachua Free-Net provided an important resource at a time when Internet access was not otherwise available through a public-private partnership that included the City of Gainesville, Alachua County, the School Board of Alachua County, the Alachua County Library District, the University of Florida, Santa Fe Community College, the Gainesville Sun, James Moore & Co, SunTrust Banks, Barr Systems, BellSouth, IBM and numerous private donors and volunteers,” said Pokorney. “Alachua Free-Net was a collaborative effort and we would like to thank all of its contributors and volunteers.”

Contact: David Pokorney <dp@ufl.edu>
352.392.2061

Contact: Bruce Brashear
352. 336.0800
Fax 352.336.0505