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SkyWi broadband internet service has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Fort Worth.
While some customers reportedly still have service, many others do not, including Springtown’s Evie Hooper.
At the moment, she is borrowing a friend’s computer in Azle to do her work – ironically, the friend has SkyWi service. SkyWi’s website is still up, with a note on its homepage apologizing for “the recent outage” and suggesting that customers email or call a toll-free number for information. The number, 866-221-3776, was invalid as of Tuesday. A local number, 817-237-6400, answered with a recorded message but the sales and billing voice mailboxes were full.
The option to check “today’s network status report” gave a recording stating “we are experiencing no known network outages.” SkyWi’s office, located at 8401 Jacksboro Hwy. in Lakeside, is shut, with a torn sheet of paper taped to the door reading, “Attention: To Whom It May Concern: All questions need to be addressed to Bankruptcy Trustee John Dee Spicer, 817-428-9355.” Hooper’s service went down on Sunday, Oct. 4, but she didn’t think much of it because the service goes out so often, she said. “It’s not unusual for it to go down in bad weather, so I waited to call on Monday. The message said they weren’t having any service outages,” she said. In the past, if Hooper left a message, she “typically didn’t get a return call,” and so her husband had developed the habit of dropping by in person. This time he found the door locked, the sign removed and the paper stuck in the window. Hooper had already paid for the month of October but “they wouldn’t give my check back,” she said. Rather than hire an attorney for a $65 loss, Hooper stopped payment on the check. In talking with other customers, Hooper has found that some have received no notice that the company is bankrupt, while others received notice that they will get another internet service. The ones who were reassured they would be taken care of “are in Azle,” Hooper said. “I’m in Springtown.” Hooper, who works from home for a resale compliance company in New Jersey and reviews some 1,500 internet pages a day, truly needs the service. “I’m switching service providers,” Hooper said. She has signed up with United Wireless out of Weatherford and was due to have it installed this week. SkyWi has a history of trouble, including being late on its payments to the city of Springtown on a lease for antenna space on the city’s water tower. In 2007, SkyWi fell five months behind. The city locked the gate to its tower and eventually received its money. In 2008, SkyWi fell behind again, so the city locked the gate again – and got its money. The company is paid up now, said finance director Kim Mathis, but the gate has been locked yet again so they will have to ask for the key if they want their antenna. Pelican Bay reported this week that SkyWi owes it money, too, also for antenna space. SkyWi has had trouble in other places as well. In New Mexico, Qwest Communications claimed SkyWi owed it $1.7 million for using its towers. SkyWi disputed the claim and in December, 2008, filed a lawsuit against Qwest seeking $75,000. Spicer was unavailable for an interview as of presstime this week. Details of SkyWi’s court proceedings should appear in next week’s issue. Chapter 7 bankruptcy is liquidation, as opposed to Chapter 11, which is reorganization. According to SkyWi’s website, its internet service is offered to homes and businesses in Eagle Mountain, Lake Worth, Lakeside, Saginaw and Azle. |
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