Planet Networks –2023 Corporate Partner

Planet Networks, founded as Garden Networks in 1994 in Newton, New Jersey, started as a small Internet service provider serving rural Sussex County with dial-up Internet service. After expanding beyond New Jersey, the company changed its name to Tellurian Networks to reflect its global aspirations. Under the new name, the company experienced rapid growth and acquired numerous competitors, including Planet Access Networks, which eventually inspired its final name change to Planet Networks.

Planet Networks has evolved and expanded its services and reach throughout the years, always providing leading-edge technology coupled with exceptional customer service. Planet deployed 56k dialup in 1996, DSL in 1997, and fixed wireless in 1999. Planet started to deploy fiber in Newton in 2000. Due to an uncertain and constantly shifting regulatory environment for access to utility poles, the company focused on hosting and cloud services. The company quickly established itself as a leader in medical software hosting, serving top companies and becoming the largest medical hosting company in the United States.

Planet Networks expanded its infrastructure, building multiple data centers nationwide, developing cloud/virtualization platforms, and expanding its cloud service offerings. The medical hosting business was sold in 2008 to become part of Dell.

Since 2019, Planet Networks has focused on expanding its fiber network, providing highspeed Internet access throughout northern New Jersey.

As of 2023, Planet Networks had grown to over 120 employees and expanded its fiber footprint to southern New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, and New York’s Hudson Valley. With a network spanning over 1,000 miles today, the company is actively investing in vehicles, staff, technology, and equipment to support further expansion over the coming years.

Throughout its history, Planet Networks has remained committed to honesty, integrity, and excellence, providing exceptional value to its clients. From humble beginnings in an old firehouse garage to its status as a leading regional internet service provider, the company’s dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction has driven its success. A fundamental principle of Planet’s philosophy is giving back to our communities by generously supporting local non-profit organizations, schools, and clubs. Community service is integral to who Planet Networks is as a company. The Planet team is encouraged to aid and volunteer with many community organizations. Planet has provided free web hosting and heavily discounted connectivity services to local non-profit 501(c)3 organizations for almost 30 years. Being a good corporate citizen and facilitating volunteerism is integral to Planet Networks’ culture.

DASI Corporate Partner of the Year

Robert Boyle, CEO of Planet Networks answers our questions on Planet’s love for DASI.

Q: What does it mean to you to receive the corporate partner award for Planet Networks for your dedication to DASI and your community?

A: Receiving the Corporate Partner Award reflects our ongoing commitment to positively impacting our community. It’s about our deeply ingrained belief that Planet has a responsibility to help the communities we serve. It is also a reflection of our collective efforts as an organization and our ongoing commitment to positively impacting our community.

Q: What lesson have you learned with all your charitable endeavors that you would like to share with others?

A: Reflecting on my life at its midpoint, I realize that my fondest memories are not derived from personal achievements but from instances where I made a tangible difference in someone else’s life. Simple acts such as lending comfort to a friend, easing a burden that would otherwise weigh heavily on a solitary shoulder, and volunteering service to causes close to your heart are examples of service that genuinely define a well-lived life, not the gathering of accolades or material possessions. Success is measured by the positive influence we wield in the lives of others. My aspiration is for my existence to hold significance by enriching the lives of others. Our true legacy is the good we impart unto others, the kindness that continues to ripple outwards after we are gone. If we all endeavored to make helping others a daily focus, our world would transform for the better. Our individual contributions to global goodness would result in a profound change, fostering a world of greater compassion and understanding.

Q: What motivates you to support DASI and the victims/survivors that they serve? What do you find most rewarding?

A: Domestic and sexual violence is, sadly, a pervasive and deeply rooted problem in our society. We all must confront and help eradicate power-based violence. Our partnership with DASI is just one step towards achieving this. Together, we strive to empower the most vulnerable, to help them find hope, and to help them reclaim their lives from the devastating impacts of abuse. DASI’s repeated success in breaking the cycle of violence and countless success stories of helping those affected to create a better life continues to inspire us to support them.

Q: Is there anything else that you would like to share with those reading this Q&A?

A: As we look forward, let this award serve not just as an acknowledgment of what we’ve achieved together but as a reminder of the work ahead of us. We remain steadfast in our commitment to DASI and our community and will continue working diligently to ensure a safer and more inclusive society. It takes the combined efforts of all of us to change our world. Please help support DASI and do your part in your personal and professional circles to stand up to all forms of power-based violence. www.planet.net 833-3PLANET

About DASI

DASI has over 37-years of experience providing high-quality, comprehensive services to victims of domestic and sexual violence and human trafficking in Sussex County, NJ We hold ourselves accountable in our work to dismantle the unique barriers faced by survivors, to conf ront systemic injustice, and to drive social change. We engage in transformative practices and aspire to create a strong, empathetic, healthy, and supportive community f ree of power-based violence. We strive to empower survivors, to create physical, emotional, and psychological safety, and to recognize the fundamental value and dignity of all.

1989, DASI opened an in-home emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence. Services now include a secure 24 /7 emergency shelter, helpline, Step by Step Transitional Housing Program, crisis intervention program, case management, legal advocacy, children’s services, supportive and clinical counseling services for victims and survivors, prevention and community education, and DECIDE a program for domestic violence offenders.

DASI is the recipient of numerous local, state, and national recognition for program excellence and exemplary staff performance. Our primary purpose is to keep survivors and their families safe, empower them, and help them progress toward independence and a sustainable future.

In 2022

Rise Up 40 Poetry Sessions

1,041

CALLS RECEIVED

Decide 111 Program

Serveddomesticviolenceoffenders

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

SEXUAL ASSAULT

1324

INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS

2022 Record Breaking Numbers

About Legal Advocacy

DASI’s legal advocacy program is also seeing a drastic increase in survivors needing legal advocacy services. In past years, the legal advocacy program served approximately 330 survivors/year. In September 2022 alone, DASI’s legal advocates provided services to 169 survivors! We were recently informed by the Sussex County Superior Court that due to the increase in the number of TRO’s filed, domestic violence hearings will take place two full days in court where in the past, Sussex County only had one full day of hearings. DASI also covers all domestic violence cases that are heard in Municipal Courts in Sussex County.

DASI offers wrap-around services and expanded programming including health and wellness, yoga classes, and access to our on-site Food Pantry.