Chain O' Lakes Internet, A COLI Company
“The only Truly Local ISP Left in Northwest Lower Michigan”
The COLI Scoop
November 20, 2008

Black Friday’s bringing you holiday cheer – Ahead of schedule!

 

That’s right – for the first time ever – COLI Communications is very excited to be able to pass along to you some super exciting deals! We will have many different specials starting today - from Wireless High-speed Internet Installations to Computer Repair and Consultation and even Data Backup! Book now through Friday, November 28 to secure these value added savings!

See the following website for a valuable coupon code to harness savings. Clear here!

• Wireless High-Speed Internet Installation - $99!*
• Computer Maintenance Services – 25% off all services!
• Data Knox, COLI’s Data Backup Solution – Free Remote Setup!
• In-home Computer Repair - $60/hr.**
• Looking to upgrade the computer? – Free Inspection & Consultation! ***

*2-year service agreement required. Original price: $199. Excludes 900MHz / Non-line of sight.
**Service normally $90/hr. Drive time included in service work cost.
***Inspection and Consultation free if you use COLI, Inc. to upgrade your computer.

COLI Communication Revamps Account Management Software

With the mass amounts of positive feedback we have received about account management software, we are pleased to bring you our revamped Account Info page off of our website.

After you click on the link, it will prompt you to log-in to your account. Your log-in credentials are the username and password that you signed up with. After you have typed in your credentials, click the ‘login’ box and it will take you to the home screen of the Account Management system.

The new added features available inside of the Account Management system allow you to view current invoices, recent payments and even usage per month. You can make payments to your account, change log-in information (such as usernames and passwords for e-mail accounts or your password for log-in purposes) and even add services such as e-mail accounts.
The category headings at the top of the toolbar show all of the different account criteria that you can manage:

Home: Shows the services that are active on the account as well as the current billing information as an overview.
• Services: Detailed breakdown of all of the invoice-able services that are active on your account. From here you can also add services that are allowed to be added via the web Account Management system.
Billing: Allows you to see past invoices in detail format as well as make a payment, in real time and also view usage history.
Account: Update your billing information.
Tickets: Still a work in progress, but will allow you to view all technical support tickets that we received on your account whether it be an e-mail submission or telephone support call.

The Account Management web utility is a great valued added service we are pleased to be able to offer to you. Please give it a try today and let us know your experiences so that we can, as always, strive to give you the best support possible.

Wireless & TV White Space Update:
 

First and foremost: Thank you! Your strong community voice has finally pushed the FCC to allow us to expand wireless technology into the TV White Space and further expands the serviceability of not only our, but everyone’s wireless capabilities. Without you and your voice, this would not have been possible.

“The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously [November 4, 2008] to allow long-range Wi-Fi service using white space, the unused portions of the electromagnetic spectrum between television signals.

"The rules adopted today," the FCC said, "will allow for the use of these new and innovative types of unlicensed devices in the unused spectrum to provide broadband data and other services for consumers and businesses. The rules represent a careful first step to permit the operation of unlicensed devices in the TV white spaces and include numerous safeguards to protect incumbent services against harmful interference."

“The FCC said its ruling is designed to protect existing transmissions. Any devices designed to access white space Wi-Fi, the commission said, "must include geo-location capability and provisions to access over the Internet a database of the incumbent services, such as full-power and low-power TV stations and cable-system head-ends, in addition to spectrum-sensing technology." In addition, each white-space device must be able to detect wireless microphone transmissions.”

“All devices will be required to obtain certification from the FCC Laboratory that they meet the commission's requirements before they can be marketed to the public, and the FCC made it clear that it will police television white space carefully.”

"The commission will closely oversee and monitor the introduction of TV white-space devices," it said. "The commission will act promptly to remove from the market any equipment found to be causing harmful interference and will require the responsible parties to take appropriate actions to remedy any interference that may occur."

Actual implementation may take some time, but before long we will be able to start reaping the benefit of ‘WiFi on Steroids.’ As soon as COLI knows anything more, we’ll let you know! Stay tuned!

Article courtesy of NewsFactor Networks

Content Filtering, Custom Firewall's and Security, oh my!
 

COLI Communications is proud to add a new service into our arsenal: content filtering. We are now able to easily add customer content filtering to our high-speed wireless service. With this service we are able to change filter settings at your discretion whether it be blocking individual web sites or a bulk of web sites that fall underneath a certain category. This impressive new feature will allow us to protect your web browsing habits and once again create a fun and exciting environment.

When you request a webpage, the computer will go through our custom firewall against the content settings specified on your account. If the site is a valid site, the site will pass through and work like normal whereas if it is a site on your blocked list, it will prevent access totally. The nice part about this is that it is all done quickly and seamlessly all the while protecting you against the exclusions that you supply.

Tired of getting unwanted pop-ups that are, well, questionable? Afraid of what might lie beyond that mouse click? Want to protect the kids while you’re away? Worry no more! Let COLI’s content filtering work for you.