RIP Billy Garrett – Founder of Rural Wireless ISP Beeline Broadband

We’d just like to take a moment to bid farewell to Billy Garrett, co-founder of wireless ISP Beeline Broadband that serves the Newton-on-Rawcliffe village and surrounding areas in North Yorkshire (England), who passed away recently.

Billy moved to the village in 2004 and soon found that many local premises were unable to receive anything better than a dialup Internet connection. In an effort to improve the situation Billy, a semi-retired engineer and enthusiastic radio amateur, harnessed his skills and alongside his son, Glenn, built an outdoor WiFi system for residents that eventually became the ISP we know today.

As a fitting tribute Billy’s funeral was streamed live to the Internet so that his friends and relatives around the world could listen in, which would not have been possible without the network he built. Rest in Peace Billy – http://www.billygarrett.co.uk , you will be missed.