(Originally Published in The Rutland Herlad/Times Argus 2/08/2003)

For someone who doesn’t know the difference between a cow chip and a computer chip, Vermont’s newest Internet service provider is banking that its hometown touch, service and low price will set it apart from its competitors.

Burlington-based Silicon Dairy (www.silicondairy.net) launched its dial-up Internet service last month with an eye toward attracting not only new Internet users but customers dissatisfied with such national Internet services like EarthLink and America Online.

Taking its name from the state’s dairy farm heritage, Silicon Dairy serves the entire state with unlimited dial-up service for $15 a month, lower than the average $20 a month most Internet service providers charge. The company also offers e-mail-only accounts for $5 a month.

Shane DeRidder, Silicon Dairy’s network engineering director, said that a Vermont-based Internet service provider can better meet the needs of customers than struggling out-of-state national providers like AOL and EarthLink that have their call centers located out of state.

“That’s a huge advantage on our behalf because we can provide local tech support and the people that you’re talking to are here in Vermont,� said DeRidder, a former senior engineer with Together Networks.

Founded as a Vermont-based ISP, Together Networks was purchased several years ago by OneMain.com., which in turn was acquired by EarthLink.

DeRidder said Silicon Dairy’s offers toll-free telephone tech support five days a week. The company’s Web site also has a help page.

While many ISPs have been pushing the faster but more expensive broadband, or DSL service, DeRidder said that for many the 56k dial-up remains the only viable option.

“With the economy the way it is, a lot of people can’t afford broadband or they live in an area where it’s not available,� DeRidder said. “There is still a huge market for dial-up out there.�

Dan Erickson, Silicon Dairy’s director of operations, added that the one-year-old company believes offering Internet access was a natural extension to its existing services.

“We decided with some of our in-house expertise … that we would just diversify our service offering from traditional Web design, development and hosting, to include Internet access,� Erickson said. “Some of our clients were asking us if we offered that service and because we were able to, as far as our technical experience, decided that that would be a service we would offer.�

For their $15 monthly fee, customers also receive five mailboxes, 20 megabytes of personal Web space, instant messaging, and a free gallery to post photos. Silicon Dairy has local access number available in all parts of the state, including some border areas of Quebec, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, so no toll calls are required.

Silicon Dairy isn’t the only Vermont-based ISP. SoVerNet is believed to be the largest statewide provider offering a number of Internet connection options, including unlimited dial-up service for $20 a month. Springfield-based VTel has unlimited dial-up service for $22 a month while nonprofit ValleyNet offers unlimited service for $23 a month. Based in Norwich, ValleyNet also offers the option of 100 hours of access for $15 a month or 150 hours for $20. While Silicon Dairy and SoVerNet cover the entire state, VTel and ValleyNet have limited service areas.

As its ISP business grows, Silicon Dairy expects to hire additional workers to its current staff of five. Erickson pointed out that before it was bought out by EarthLink, Together Networks employed 45 people at its Burlington call center.

Company officials declined to say how much they’ve invested in the ISP business. In addition to Erickson and DeRidder, Silicon Dairy’s other principals are creative director Ben Smith and information technology director Brian Manning.

Contact Bruce Edwards at bruce.edwards@rutlandherald.com