After more than three decades of the familiar whirring, buzzing, and beeping of a modem connecting to the internet, AOL has announced it will permanently shut down its dial-up service on September 30, 2025. For residents of Southern Oregon—particularly those in rural areas who still rely on the service—this marks the end of a technological era and the need to make new arrangements for internet access.
AOL launched its dial-up service in 1991, back when the internet was a mystery to most and the phrase “You’ve got mail” became a cultural catchphrase. For years, it was the go-to gateway for millions of households nationwide. In rural regions like Josephine, Jackson, and Douglas counties, AOL’s phone-line-based service offered a reliable, if slow, connection long before broadband became commonplace.
But now, with the overwhelming majority of internet users on broadband, fiber, satellite, or mobile data, AOL says the small number of remaining dial-up customers can no longer justify keeping the service running. The company also plans to discontinue its AOL Dialer software and AOL Shield browser on the same day. AOL’s email service will remain active, so longtime customers won’t lose their addresses—but the actual connection method will be gone for good.
The decision isn’t entirely unexpected. Maintaining infrastructure for a shrinking user base is expensive, and modern websites are increasingly difficult to load over a 56k connection. While some users in Southern Oregon still cling to dial-up due to limited broadband availability or the lower cost, the technology’s days have been numbered for years. The shutdown forces a question for those remaining customers: What comes next?
For many, satellite internet through providers like Starlink, HughesNet, or Viasat may be the most accessible replacement, especially in areas without cable or fiber infrastructure. While satellite service is significantly faster than dial-up, it comes with higher monthly costs and potential weather-related slowdowns. Some rural residents may also be within range of fixed wireless internet, which uses antennas to transmit signals from local towers. Mobile hotspots through cellular providers like Verizon or T-Mobile could be another option, though data caps may limit heavy usage.
In cities and larger towns like Grants Pass, Medford, and Roseburg, broadband and fiber providers are well-established, making the transition easier. However, the shutdown still underscores the digital divide between urban and rural communities—one that the federal government and state of Oregon have been attempting to address with infrastructure funding and grants to expand high-speed internet access.
For those feeling nostalgic, AOL’s departure from dial-up is more than a logistical shift; it’s the end of a sound and a connection experience that defined the early internet age. In the 1990s and early 2000s, hearing the modem tones meant your gateway to the world was opening—albeit at speeds that seem glacial today. The distinctive connection process, along with AOL’s chat rooms, instant messaging, and early online shopping portals, became a staple of internet culture.
Come this fall, that chapter will close for good. For Southern Oregonians still holding on to their AOL dial-up accounts, now is the time to explore alternatives—because after September 30, the familiar modem handshake will be nothing more than a memory.