ACD.net is a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier

Competitive local exchange carrier

A competitive local exchange carrier , in the United States, is a telecommunications provider company competing with other, already established carriers ....

 and Internet Service Provider

Internet service provider

An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...

, headquartered in Lansing, Michigan

Lansing, Michigan

Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...

.

History

ACD.net was founded as ACD Computers in 1986 by Kevin Schoen. ACD built and sold their own computer systems through the 1990s. In 1994 ACD became and Internet Service Provider, selling dial-up, hosting and other Internet Services. ACD Telecom, Inc., which is part of ACD.net obtained CLEC license in early 2000. ACD then deployed 7 Central Offices in the Lansing and Jackson Michigan markets, and started providing facilities based DSL, T1, Fiber and Phone Services. The company has since expanded to most of Lower Michigan.

Wifi Deployment

ACD has been provided a $750,000 grant by the Housing and Urban Development under a test project to deploy Wifi Service covering a 8 square miles (20.7 km²) area in Springfield, Michigan

Springfield, Michigan

Springfield is a city in Calhoun County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,189...

. As part of the agreement the city, ACD is required to provide subsidized internet access for a period of 3 years after the deployment, which was completed in spring of 2009.

Datacenter

The company has a 40000 square feet (3,716.1 m²) datacenter located in North Lansing that also serves as its headquarters, and was constructed in 2006. In 2007 Virgil Bernero

Virgil Bernero

Virgil "Virg" Bernero is the current mayor of Lansing, Michigan, elected on November 8, 2005 and re-elected on November 3, 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to serving as mayor, Bernero served as a legislative aide, an Ingham County Commissioner and as a member of the Michigan...

, the Mayor of Lansing, held the State of the City address there.

Lawsuit with AT&T

ACD filed a lawsuit with AT&T in 2004. The dispute was related to a "Mutual Waiver Agreement", which allowed customers to terminate telephone service with either party and not have to pay the other parties termination penalties. 14 other companies with operations in Michigan had signed the agreement, and had disputes regarding the agreement with AT&T. ACD went to a jury trial in October 2009, and won a judgement against AT&T for $7.9 million.

Security Systems

ACD provides security systems to municipalities over its broadband network. Reference is located here: http://www.securitypark.co.uk/security_article264825.html

Fiber Networks and Broadband Stimulus Projects

ACD operates a fiber network located in the State of Michigan. ACD provides service such as gigabit ethernet and sonet services to businesses, wholesale, and apartment complexes.

Round I Stimulus

ACD.net, as part of a consortium, was awarded a broadband stimulus grant led by Merit Networks in January 2010. The grant is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. A 955 miles (1,536.9 km) fiber optic network will be built, with a total investment of $44.6 million. According to press releases, the company will own strands in the fiber optic network. The network map for the fiber route is located here: http://www.acd.net/map/fibermap.cfm

Round II Stimulus

ACD.net, as part of a consortium, was awarded a broadband stimulus grant led by Merit Networks in January 2010. The grant is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. A 955 miles (1,536.9 km) fiber optic network will be built, with a total investment of $69.6 million. According to press releases, the company will own strands in the fiber optic network. The network map for the fiber route is located here: http://www.acd.net/map/fibermap.cfm

News Articles

1. http://www.capitalgainsmedia.com/innovationnews/acd0316.aspx
2. http://www.capitalgainsmedia.com/innovationnews/ACD0332.aspx
3. http://www.dailywireless.org/2008/06/10/7840/
4. http://www.muniwireless.com/2008/08/01/springfield-michigan-launches-municipal-wi-fi-service/
5. http://www.mitechnews.com/articles.asp?id=5591
6. http://www.wwj.com/Stimulus-To-Help-Merit-Wire-Thousands-More-Michiga/6163653
7. http://edc.lansingmi.gov/modules.php?name=Projects&op=ProjectsDetails&id=68&pmenu_id=5&display_mode=1
8. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5316/is_200704/ai_n21285109/
9. http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=201011100313