Dahlins first brought "the net" to county
Mother Lode Internet, the first Internet provider in Tuolumne County, is still a family-owned-and-operated business that plans to keep its focus on the Mother Lode.
Although Dennis and Brenda Dahlin have incorporated the business, they remain the only stockholders.
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It also offers local Internet access for people from Groveland through most of Calaveras County, and all of Tuolumne County. That means except for the monthly Internet fee, everything else is free. There is no hourly rate, and the calls you make are local.
All that is required to get on the Internet is to sign a brief registration form with your "login" name, password and billing information. The account will be activated immediately, and you can start "surfing the net" as soon as you get home. Software and setting up of the software is free.
Dahlin said many people want on the Internet just for the electronic mail, which enables them to correspond with people all over the world instantly and for free.
"I was surprised to find out how many people here have relatives and friends in foreign countries," said Dahlin. "Their electronic mail alone more than makes up for the monthly charge."
He said the Internet has an "incredible amount of information" on almost any subject one can imagine, and it comes with color pictures and graphics that can be printed on paper.
He recommends it for students working on school projects, and he said any subject can be researched. For instance, a person diagnosed with a disease can find out all the most recent research on that disease.
Up-to-the-minute weather information is available with color maps, as is what is happening at the National Aeronautical and Space Administration.
Mother Lode Internet can help parents get software that will prevent inappropriate material from getting through to their children.
They also have a lending library of tools and self-help books to help people get started on the Internet.
They will have demonstrations of the Internet, including high speed business access and office network access at the Home and Garden Show. They will also demonstrate voice and video over the Internet and will give away a free year of service, an Internet TV box with one year of free service and lots of smaller prizes.
Mother Lode Internet
486 S. Washington St., Sonora
536-5800