ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 15, 1996 TAG: 9602150076
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
Floyd firm offers Internet connection
Citizens Telephone Cooperative of Floyd said Wednesday that it has begun offering toll-free Internet access in nine Western Virginia counties through its Citizens InterNet.
The service is available in Floyd, Carroll, Craig, Franklin, Giles, Patrick, Montgomery, Pulaski and Roanoke counties. Rates begin at $10.95 a month for 10 hours and run to $99.95 a month for unlimited use.
The company also said talks are under way with Hughes Communications to make Citizens a local provider of Hughes DirecPC Turbo Internet service, which, at 400 kilobytes per second, is 28 times faster than the standard 1.4 kps modem.
- Staff report
Contractors to refill recovery fund
The Virginia Board for Contractors has voted to assess its 40,000 members up to $50 each to replenish the Contractors Transaction Recovery Fund, which compensates consumers who have been victims of improper action or dishonesty by licensed contractors.
The assessment will bring the total up to the state-mandated level of $400,000. The last assessment was in 1992.
Only consumers who use licensed contractors can file claims with the fund. When a payment is made, the board revokes the contractor's license. Since the inception of the fund in 1980, the board has approved more than 1,200 claims resulting in $6.9 million in payments to consumers.
- Staff report
Cox Cable adds Speedvision
Cox Communications said Wednesday that it is adding Speedvision, a 24-hour channel dedicated to automotive, marine and aviation enthusiasts, to its Cable-Plus television lineup in the Roanoke Valley.
Speedvision features coverage of such events as Le Mans and the World Superbike championships, news and information, documentaries, lifestyle programming and how-to shows. It will be on Channel 47.
Speedvision is partially owned by Cox, which has 55,000 customers in Roanoke, Roanoke County and Vinton.
- Staff report
Gannett to join InfiNet partnership
The Gannett Co. Inc., publisher of USA Today, said Wednesday that it will join two media companies - Knight-Ridder Inc. and Landmark Communications Inc. - as partners in InfiNet, an Internet access and services company that makes newspapers accessible on-line.
Norfolk-based Landmark, parent of The Roanoke Times, started InfiNet in 1994. Knight-Ridder of Miami became an InfiNet partner in June 1995.
Gannett is the nation's largest newspaper publishing company with 92 dailies. It also owns 15 television stations, 13 radio stations, cable TV systems in five states, security systems and North America's largest outdoor advertising company.
- Staff report
LENGTH: Medium: 62 linesby CNB