Court to hear motion on NorthPoint network

ISP resellers hope to keep the network up for a short period.

By Michael Martin
Network World Fusion, 03/27/01

The short-term fate of the NorthPoint DSL network could be decided Tuesday when a California court rules on a motion that seeks to keep the network operating so current NorthPoint customers can be moved over to other DSL providers.

The motion was filed by a consortium of NorthPoint ISP resellers, who would also provide the funding for the ongoing network service.

NorthPoint's assets, including co-location facilities and some network equipment and software, were purchased last Thursday by AT&T. AT&T plans to use the assets to offer its own DSL service, but will not continue to provide service to existing NorthPoint customers.

Some ISP resellers have already disconnected from the NorthPoint network, leaving end users with no DSL service, says Adam Guglielmo, an analyst with technology research firm TeleChoice in Denver. For example, Microsoft, which had a joint marketing agreement with NorthPoint, is no longer providing NorthPoint DSL service. The company has offered customers who were on the NorthPoint network six months of dial-up service as compensation.

ISPs who have not yet cut service to the NorthPoint network are likely working to move their customers over to another DSL network, such as Covad's or Rhythms', Guglielmo says.

NorthPoint customers who want to keep up on the latest news about the fate of NorthPoint's network should check their ISP's Web site regularly, Guglielmo advises.

NorthPoint: www.northpoint.net

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