RidgeviewTel to continue service for Premier Wireless

CANTON — A Colorado wireless Internet provider has agreed to continue providing Premier Wireless customers with Internet access.

RidgeviewTel will assume the operations of Premier, a Canton company that shut down Thursday because of mounting debt and the downturn in the economy. About 300 Premier customers could have lost Internet access without the arrangement. An agreement hasn't been finalized.

"We're stepping up to keep service going," RidgeviewTel spokeswoman Michelle L. Heim said Thursday. "The customers won't go dark."

Premier also blamed trouble obtaining bank financing and outstanding customer bills for shutting down operations. Premier Paging won't be affected by the shutdown. The arrangement is on a month-to-month basis.