I am writing to request a factual update to the history of Free/Ad-Supported ISPs. I have a Conflict of Interest (COI) as I was the founder of Bigger.net (TGGH, Inc.), but I am providing third-party verifiable sources to support these additions.
Currently, the history of the ad-supported model often begins with NetZero (1998). However, verifiable records show that Bigger.net launched the ad-supported "Banner Window" model in 1997, prior to NetZero, and was recognized by major media and federal patent filings of the era.
I propose adding the following text to the "History" section:
"Prior to the launch of NetZero, the ad-supported ISP model was pioneered in 1997 by Bigger.net (operated by TGGH, Inc.). The service utilized a proprietary 'always-on-top' banner window to display advertisements in exchange for free internet access. The company's technology was later cited as 'Prior Art' in US Patent filings by competitors, and the brand sponsored the National Air Race champion 'Strega' in 1997."
References & Citations:
US Patent 6,757,661: Filed by NetZero/United Online. This patent cites the Bigger.net ad-delivery method as "Prior Art" in the patent description, acknowledging the pre-existence of the banner window technology.
Source: Google Patents - US6757661B1 (Search for "Bigger.net" in text).
Sponsorship & Commercial Viability (1997): Archives confirm Bigger.net was the primary sponsor of the "Strega" P-51 Mustang air racing team in December 1997, predating the public launch of most competitors.
Source: Wayback Machine - Strega.com (Dec 1997) (Footer: "web page creation by @bigger.net", Logo on aircraft wing).
SEC Filings: TGGH, Inc. (d.b.a. Bigger.net) history is documented in federal SEC Form 10-12G filings from 1999, confirming the operational timeline of 1996–1997.
Media Coverage: USA Today (Cover Story, 1997) and The Wall Street Journal (1997) covered Bigger.net as a competitor to AOL, with the WSJ noting its disruptive potential against incumbents.
Thank you for reviewing these sources to ensure the historical record is accurate. ~2026-17021-4 (talk) 02:34, 9 January 2026 (UTC)
- User:COIBot/COI
- I am writing to request a correction to the history of the "Free ISP" model. I am the founder of Bigger.net (Scott Smith) and have a Conflict of Interest (COI), so I am posting this request here for review by independent editors rather than editing the article directly.
- The article currently implies NetZero (launched 1998) pioneered the ad-supported ISP model. However, Bigger.net launched on January 23, 1997, predating NetZero by over a year. Bigger.net utilized a proprietary "always-on-top" banner window technology that was later granted a U.S. Patent.
- Please consider adding a mention of Bigger.net's 1997 launch to correct the historical timeline.
- Verification Sources:
- U.S. Patent 6,757,661: "Method and apparatus for providing a user with an advertisement in a computer network environment." Filed by inventors Scott D. Smith and Bram Ambrose. This patent covers the persistent "ad bar" technology used to subsidize the free access. US 6757661, Scott D. Smith, "Method and apparatus for providing a user with an advertisement in a computer network environment", published 2004-06-29
- CNET News (Jan 23, 1997): "AOL rivals face same problems" – This contemporary report confirms the service launch and explicitly cites heavy traffic due to coverage in that morning's USA Today and San Francisco Chronicle. [1]
- CNET News (Nov 13, 1997): "One-fee ISP hits limit" – Details the ad-banner technology and confirms the subscriber cap. [2]
- The Wall Street Journal (Jan 1997): Article referencing Bigger.net as a competitor to AOL's Steve Case.
- USA Today (Jan 24, 1997): Featured on the cover of the Business/Money section as a pioneer of the "Free Internet" model.
- Thank you for reviewing these sources. ~2026-17021-4 (talk) 10:22, 24 January 2026 (UTC) ~2026-17021-4 (talk) 10:22, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
- Note to reviewing editors:
- While some of the original 1997 newspaper links have succumbed to "link rot," the video footage of the television broadcasts (CNN, MSNBC, KCBS) confirming these stories is preserved.
- **Video Evidence:** Archive of 1997 Broadcasts
- **Significance:** The footage (Timestamp 00:08:49 in Part 1) explicitly interviews the founder and shows the "USA Today" cover story referenced in the CNET citation.
- ~2026-17021-4 (talk) 10:42, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
- "For clarification: @bigger.net was the Doing Business As (DBA) name for TGGH, Inc., a San Jose-based corporation. This entity is cited in The Washington Post (Jan 25, 1997) and international patent filings (WO 98/35300)." ~2026-17021-4 (talk) 11:39, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
- 1997-01-25,TGGH Inc.,Lifetime of Net for One-Time Fee,Washington Post (VT Archive),Cites TGGH Inc. explicitly,https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1997/rt9701/970125/01280130.htm ~2026-17021-4 (talk) 12:14, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
- Not a review, but here is a clipping for the USA Today report:[3] Sammi Brie (she/her · t · c) 18:18, 24 January 2026 (UTC)
