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HOUGHTON - ShoreWaves, a fixed wireless Internet and telephone provider, is ceasing operations and winding down customer service, according to a ShoreWaves press release. ShoreWaves made the initial announcement to its customers on July 2. The reason given is the retirement of ShoreWaves founder Steve Fitzgerald, after 14 years.
In a July 15 release, ShoreWaves said Fitzgerald had spent more than two years working with associates to sell the business in order to retire. After repeated attempts to sell the company’s assets were unsuccessful, ShoreWaves made the decision to cease operations rather than continue searching for a buyer.
HOwever following the July 15 release, ShoreWaves issued another release, on July 24, announcing the formation of the Keweenaw Broadband Cooperative. The transition follows a strong response from the community, the release says. After ShoreWaves announced it would cease operations, long-time subscribers came forward with considerable enthusiasm for forming a new cooperative to assume the network assets and operations.
The ShoreWaves network will continue to operate under an interim operating agreement while the Keweenaw Broadband Cooperative is formed as a legal entity. Existing subscribers do not need to take any action: service will continue to run. Interim operations are being supported by Northern Perspectives, of Hancock, and by Superior Tech Wizards. According to the release, ShoreWaves is cooperating with with and assisting the transition through August 31, 2026.
A July 28 status report published by Keweenaw Broadband states the ShoreWaves network will keep running past July 31 under an interim operating agreement while the Keweenaw Broadband Cooperative is formed as a legal entity.
The transition team will make every attempt to keep the service running without interruption, the report says. There may be temporary, periodic disruptions as we are moving the entire network operations center. Every attempt will be made to communicate any planned or anticipated interruptions to impacted subscribers.
ShoreWaves is completing the closing of its office at the Copper Country Mall this week, the report says. Both the City of Houghton and Portage Charter Township are extending use of their towers to ease the transition. Peninsula Fiber Network (PFN) has also graciously agreed to ensure the relocated service is fully available before terminating the ShoreWaves connection.
The Keweenaw Broadband Cooperative is expected to be in place in September. Over time, the cooperative hopes to expand both its service offering and the quality of service it delivers to Houghton and Keweenaw counties.