Scott D. Smith

Official Statistics (August 1997): @bigger.net was ranked the #2 Largest Web Hosting Company in Silicon Valley with 12,000 active customers, trailing only Best Internet and beating Aimnet and Hurricane Electric.

Official Statistics (August 1997): In the "Largest Internet Service Providers" list, the company ranked #3 overall with 12,000 subscribers and 31 POPs (Points of Presence) covering all major Bay Area area codes (408, 415, 510, 707).

Financial Validation: The Wall Street Journal covered the launch in their Technology & Business section. The article analyzed the financial viability of the lifetime access model against AOL's hourly fees.

CRITICAL VERIFICATION: This industry report explicitly names "Scott Smith" as the spokesperson and connects him directly to the @bigger.net brand.

Original 1997 article hosted on CNN's live servers. Explicitly confirms the launch date (Jan 23) and the "catch" (advertising banner) business model.

Featured on the front page of USA Today. The story ran alongside coverage of the OJ Simpson Civil Trial and Super Bowl XXXI.

Feature article by Jon Swartz detailing the launch.
Crucial Verification: The article explicitly lists the infrastructure partners: "...enlisted the help of MFS Worldcom, Bay Networks and Acclaim Technology."

Official sponsorship of the Reno Air Races champion "Strega." The massive @bigger.net logo on the wings symbolized the "High Speed" nature of the network.

Founder Scott Smith onsite for engine testing.

Pre-flight checks in the P-51 Mustang.

VIP Tickets for Founder Scott Smith to the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards (Presenters: Stallone, Cruise).

A critical validation of the business model: The New York Times covered the expansion of @bigger.net from digital downloads to physical retail shelves.

The LA Times business section profiled the company's aggressive entry into the Southern California market, confirming the "ad-based revenue model".

Legal scholars at UC Berkeley cited @bigger.net as the primary example of the "One-Time Fee" ISP model that disrupted the market (Vol 12, Issue 1).

The "Character" Proof: This original 1997 clipping explicitly names Founder Scott Smith and documents the team's "Trademark Black Jackets."

"A posse of @bigger.net execs... Scott Smith and Bram Ambrose all were spotted at the Sunnyvale fete wearing their trademark black jackets."

Visual Verification: Founder Scott Smith (datGSguy) wearing the trademark black jacket on the tarmac with the sponsored P-51 Mustang "Strega."

The bumper sticker that inspired the brand name.

Original CD-ROMs and Floppy Disks featuring the "Surfer in a Suit" mascot and Netscape Navigator partnership branding.

Bay Networks Quote PN091896085944. Proof of industrial infrastructure purchase (BayStack 301 Switches) prior to launch.

Key Roles Verified: Scott D. Smith (Founder), Jeff A. Fortin (CEO), Bram Ambrose (EVP).

Network Operations staff managing the dial-up infrastructure.

Staff preparing the "Software Kits" for physical mailing to thousands of users.

Note the official "Surfer in a Suit" easel poster in the background.

Scott Smith (datGSguy) architecting the Thai Internet Backbone for Education (1999).

In August 2004, Scott Smith (datGSguy) incorporated Oregon Public Communications, Inc. to rescue the "Community Voice Mail" service used by the Oregon Employment Department, preventing the disconnection of thousands of job-seeker voicemails.