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Frequent Questions About Changes to ValleyNetWelcome to ValleyNet : Frequent Questions About Changes to ValleyNet |
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Why is ValleyNet making a change now?In order to continue and expand its mission to support communities and community organizations, the ValleyNet board of directors chose to sell some of its services to a commercial ISP that has agreed to maintain them to ValleyNet's high standards, including keeping BlitzMail and the Message Center spam and virus filtering. SoVerNet will host all ValleyNet email accounts and will provide dial-up Internet access to ValleyNet in New Hampshire and Vermont.
How will this sale help ValleyNet continue its non-profit mission?With more and more people in the area moving to high-speed connections like DSL and cable, ValleyNet had fewer and fewer dial-up customers. At some point it would cost more to maintain those accounts than we could reasonably charge for them; moving them to a larger provider means that the revenue from that sale will provide ValleyNet with enough funding for its non-profit mission for years to come.
What services are affected?ValleyNet's dial-up services and @valley.net email boxes will be provided by SoverNet beginning January 1, 2006. SoVerNet will also be providing hosting for commercial and personal websites. Community websites, community domain email boxes, Manila websites, and community email lists will continue to be provided by ValleyNet. ValleyNet will also continue to provide many services to schools and other community organizations, and will continue to support domain registrations as it has in the past.
I have a DSL account with ValleyNet; will my service be affected?Your DSL connection will remain the same, and your @valley.net address will continue to work as it has. For most DSL accounts, SoVerNet will be your contact for technical support for your DSL connection and email address. Your bill will also come from SoVerNet. DSL customers in Lyme will continue to be billed by ValleyNet and will call ValleyNet for technical support.
If my ValleyNet dial-up account and email are now being provided by Sovernet, am I still supporting ValleyNet?Yes! A portion of the fees that you send to SoVerNet for your Internet service will directly fund programs at ValleyNet; this is part of the agreement between ValleyNet and SoVerNet, and is in large part the means by which ValleyNet will continue its community service work.
If I have a problem with my mail or connecting to the Internet, who should I call?SoVerNet offers excellent technical support Monday-Saturday 8am to 8pm. They will be offering technical support after January 13th for the ValleyNet services that will be moving to their servers. You will be able to reach them by telephone at (877) 877-2120 or by using their support page on the web at http://corp.sover.net/docs/supportQ.shtml. Until then, ValleyNet will continue to offer technical support for all services at 802 649-2162 / 603 643-7567.
Will there be any changes with my email or paper bill?Beginning with the new year, SoVerNet will be charging your credit card or sending you an email bill for your Internet dial-up service and/or additional email boxes. While ValleyNet billed every three months for dial-up accounts; SoVerNet will bill on a monthly basis. This should be the only change that you see in your bill.
What will ValleyNet do in the future?ValleyNet will continue to offer free and low-cost lectures and hands-on workshops to everyone about computers, digital photography, safe computer use, and using the Internet. ValleyNet will continue to sponsor and support the free Community Technology Center at the Grafton County Senior Center, which offers computer and Internet access to anyone in the Upper Valley ValleyNet provides many services to nonprofit and community organizations, towns, and schools with low-cost website hosting, domain email boxes, website design services, and networking help; we expect to continue and even to expand these offerings. We're also committed to continue to provide forums and community email discussion lists to towns, neighborhoods, and other groups.
What about the ValleyNet homepage at www.valley.net?ValleyNet will continue to present its dynamic homepage at www.valley.net with business and organization listings, the Materials Exchange and Volunteer bulletin board, daily Upper Valley events listings, online learning links, and more. It's a great starting point to begin your day's work on the Internet, and a resource for local listings and information. Technical support links will now be directed to the SoVerNet pages.
Will I be able to get my mail the same way?All of your mail settings will be the same, and you will be able to use whatever email program you use now (including BlitzMail). Name lookups in BlitzMail will continue to work as they have in the past, and you will be able to check your ValleyNet email using the mail.valley.net web page.
What about spam and virus filtering for my email?SoVerNet will continue to provide Postini Message Center filtering for ValleyNet mail accounts.
Will SoVerNet include any other services with my ValleyNet account?SoVerNet offers extended hours for technical support by telephone, web, and email and they offer dial-up connections from anywhere in the United States for those who travel or who summer or winter in other areas.
What about ValleyNet's employees?Some ValleyNet employees will be continuing on with the organization; unfortunately, it isn't possible to fund all of the current positions. The smaller staff will move to new offices in White River Junction. All other employees are receiving severance packages in acknowledgement of many years of service devoted to this unique institution
Where will ValleyNet's new offices be?Beginning February 1, 2006, ValleyNet will share offices with SoVerNet at 58 North Main Street, Suite 1 in White River Junction, Vermont.
What happens if I need my computer repaired or viruses removed?
ValleyNet will still be offering this service at our White River Junction location. |
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