November 8th, 2004

CSInet Internet Access is using an old concept – bartering – to bring the latest technology to remote areas of LaPorte County. CSInet and LaPorte County Co-Op have entered into a win-win situation wherein CSInet uses the Co-Op’s grain elevators on which to mount their cell tower-to-tower links. These main links (also called backhaul links) “transmit data from one tower back to our data center or back to another tower,” explained Doug Konieczny, president of CSInet Internet Access.

In return, the LaPorte County Co-Op uses this high-speed Internet access and a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to connect five far-flung locations with each other and with the main business office.

“We are doing more and more business applications over the Internet these days and the broadband access makes it a much more pleasurable experience,” said Tom Richlen, operations manager of LaPorte County Co-Op. “We do everything from receiving invoices to placing orders with vendors, to monitoring bulk product inventories at our remote locations,” Richlen added.

Both companies save thousands of dollars per year with this arrangement. Other businesses and many individuals also are beneficiaries of this high-speed wireless Internet access. Grain elevators are typically located in rural areas where DSL and cable access are unavailable.

CSInet Internet Access is a locally owned and operated small business established in 1995. They offer business and residential Internet access including high-speed wireless, DSL, and dial-up with 365 days a year technical support. When traveling, subscribers can take advantage of toll-free access numbers in over 2000 cities nationwide. Other business services include high-speed T1 dedicated lines, website hosting and design, server co-location, and network setup. Visit www.csinet.net or call 219-326-5252.