ClarkNet

ClarkNet was an Internet service provider (ISP) located in Ellicott City, Maryland that began operation in April 1993.

As the company grew the offices moved to Columbia and the computer data center remained at the barn.

It was the first ISP to provide dial-up TCP/IP access (via SLIP or PPP) targeted for the home user in the Mid Atlantic region.

ClarkNet enjoyed a great deal of press exposure because of its early entry into the Internet, the fact it was a deaf-owned company, its unusual location on a working farm, and its excellent reputation for service.

ClarkNet also rolled out a training curriculum for individuals and businesses to teach basic to advanced courses in web development and Internet research.

The barn on the Clark farm where ClarkNet started burned down in an accident on November 15, 2004, although the company was no longer in existence nor being used by Verio at the time.