Light At The End Of The Tunnel For Mainstreet Broadband Users - WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News Leader

The recent shutdown of Mainstreet Broadband is not only affecting customers but an area retailer who installed equipment for more than 140 customers throughout Washington and Jackson counties.

Andy Schack is the owner of Clear Choice Satellite in Chipley and one of Mainstreet Broadband's top producers. Therefore, when he heard late last week that the internet provider shut down all operations....it also meant his checkbook shut down. "We were basically left holding a pretty big bag at that point." He also miss out on a promised trip to Disney for him and his family, a reward for being a top producer.

However a recent phone call from a different internet provider is shining light at the end of the tunnel. The unnamed provider is looking into coming into the area and picking up where Mainstreet Broadband left off.

"I'll be meeting with them tomorrow [Wednesday] or Thursday and were kinda gonna go over what we're looking at as far as timelines, when everything is gonna get up and running, pricing," explains Schack, "So far from what I've seen it's been very encouraging. I'm pretty excited with what's going on."

Meanwhile the towers for Mainstreet Broadband are still up and running and should continue to do so until this potential service steps in. However there are no technicians in case a problem were to arise. Schack says, "The towers are basically on auto-pilot. If lightning were to strike one of the towers...that tower is gone, so there's no one manning the helm right now...it's a very strange situation."

Schack says the potential new service would provide a faster internet connection at a cheaper price.