Epoch Networks

{{Short description|Mid-90s internet provider}}

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{{notability|corp|date=October 2010}}

Epoch Networks (www.epochnetworks.com) was at one time the largest privately owned commercial first tier internet service provider (ISP).{{Cite web |last=Wagner |first=Jim |date=2001-02-13 |title=Backbone Provider with ISP Roots |url=http://www.isp-planet.com/profiles/2001/epoch.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030625104834/http://www.isp-planet.com/profiles/2001/epoch.html |archive-date=2003-06-25 |website=ISP Planet}} It was founded by Scott Purcell in 1994,{{Cite web |last=Morse |first=Dan |title=How Much Planning Does A Business Idea Need? |url=http://www.startupjournal.com/howto/management/200005221134-morse.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519082818/http://www.startupjournal.com/howto/management/200005221134-morse.html |archive-date=2006-05-19 |website=Startup Journal}} and was the fourth commercial internet backbone to be introduced in the United States. Epoch was also one of the first members of the Commercial Internet eXchange - for which Scott Purcell served as a board member.

An article from ISP Planet states:

{{blockquote|text=The company got its start in Costa Mesa, California around 1994 when its entire staff consisted of four people with access to a local backbone. By the end of the year, the company was one of the first ISPs connected to the Commercial Internet eXchange, a predecessor of today's Network Access Points.}}

Epoch began providing dial-up access to the Internet, and by 1996, it had 15 branch offices across the US, with more than 100 employees.{{cite news |last1=O'Dell |first1=John |title=And in Other News ... |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-and-in-other-news/170633824/ |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=September 2, 1996 |page=138}} In 1997, it was rated by CNET in the top 10 of ISPs for customer satisfaction, ranking at number 7.{{cite news |last1=CNET |title=Top Internet Service Providers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-top-internet-servi/170633500/ |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=Winston-Salem Journal |date=March 1, 1997 |location=Winston-Salem, North Carolina |page=32}} At the beginning of that year, it had 1,100 companies as clients, and 40,000 individual clients.{{cite news |last1=Nerney |first1=Chris |title='Net Buzz - Epoch Eyes ISPs |url=https://books.google.com.au/books?id=rhcEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA78&dq=%22Epoch+Networks%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj_lMnbxeOMAxUzTGwGHUBCOOs4HhDoAXoECAQQAw#v=onepage&q=%22Epoch%20Networks%22&f=false |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=Network World |date=3 Feb 1997 |page=78}}{{cite news |last1=Hussar |first1=John |title=AOL's loss may be small services' gain |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-desert-sun-aols-loss-may-be-small-s/170634442/ |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=The Desert Sun |date=January 31, 1997 |location=Palm Springs, California |page=D1}} Epoch Networks established a new internet exchange in Atlanta in 1997, reducing time and costs of internet traffic in the south-eastern US.{{cite news |last1=Sykes |first1=Rebecca |title=New Internet exchange in Atlanta eases load |url=https://books.google.com.au/books?id=HjoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA72&dq=%22Epoch+Networks%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiHueOnxOOMAxWLd2wGHeDoGSIQ6AF6BAgFEAM#v=onepage&q=%22Epoch%20Networks%22&f=false |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=InfoWorld |date=14 Apr 1997 |page=72}} It was one of the first companies to offer 56K Internet access.{{cite news |last1=Rhodewalt |first1=Bruce D |title=Outdated technology slows data |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-desert-sun-outdated-technology-slows/170635698/ |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=The Desert Sun |date=June 5, 1997 |location=Palm Springs, California |page=31}}

The company bought out a number of other providers, including Planetcom in 1995 and Internet Atlanta in 1996.{{cite news |last1=Kempner |first1=Matt |title=Competition pinches smaller providers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-competition-pinches/170635159/ |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=The Atlanta Journal |date=January 26, 1997 |location=Atlanta, Georgia |page=43}} In 1998, Epoch settled with comedian Rodney Dangerfield, who had sued the company claiming that it had used his likeness without permission.{{cite news |title=Dangerfield settles suit with Epoch Networks |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-dangerfield-settles-suit/170635334/ |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=Oakland Tribune |date=December 5, 1998 |location=Oakland, California |page=19}}

Epoch raised $45 million of venture capital funding over several years to 1999, from companies including CIBC Wood Gundy Capital, Providence Equity Partners and HarbourVest Partners.{{cite news |title=Epoch Networks Inc. Raises $23 Million |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-epoch-networks-inc/170634884/ |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=January 31, 1997 |page=144}} Among Internet and network providers, it raised the fourth largest amount of venture capital in the second quarter of 1998.{{cite news |last1=Nerney |first1=Chris |title=E-comm firms prove to be money magnets |url=https://books.google.com.au/books?id=MR4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA23&dq=%22Epoch+Networks%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiHueOnxOOMAxWLd2wGHeDoGSIQ6AF6BAgGEAM#v=onepage&q=%22Epoch%20Networks%22&f=false |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=Network World |date=31 Aug 1998 |page=23}} Epoch's revenue in the 1997-98 financial year was $24 million.{{cite news |last1=Schrader |first1=Esther |title=WEALTH: County Sprouts Tech Tycoons |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-wealth-county-spr/170635050/ |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=October 26, 1998 |page=A21}}

In 1999, Jeff Stone replaced Scott Purcell as president and chief executive of Epoch Networks.{{cite news |last1=Gaw |first1=Jonathan |title=Epoch Picks New Chief to Lead Charge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/161511593/?match=1&clipping_id=170634117 |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=April 13, 1999 |page=128}} At that time, Epoch had more than 200 employees and offices in San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Tampa, Florida and Vienna, Virginia, as well as the base in Irvine, California. In 2002, Epoch Networks was bought by Netifice Communications Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia.{{cite news |title=Netifice makes acquisition |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-netifice-makes/170634260/ |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=The Atlanta Constitution |date=October 18, 2002 |location=Atlanta, Georgia |page=F2}}