Bayou Internet sells to New Orleans company by Michael DeVault - posted Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 @ 3:01 pm  E-mail Story |  Print Story  After more than 20 years of local ownership, Bayou Internet and Communications has been bought by a New Orleans-based Internet service provider. Former Bayou Internet partner Bob Holladay confirmed the company was sold to IDS Media Inc. The transaction was finalized Tuesday at 3 p.m. "They are in multiple Louisiana markets and are a bigger operation than we are," Holladay said. Holladay said he could not disclose terms of the sale due to confidentiality agreements among he and his partners and IDS management. Bayou Internet founder Jerry Scroggin called the IDS acquisition "a win-win." "It's a great thing," Scroggin said. Scroggin will remain at the helm of the Monroe IDS operation, "overseeing Bayou," as he put it. Also, Scroggin will assume marketing responsibilities for IDS's statewide systems. IDS company officials say they are excited about the synergies that exist between IDS and Bayou Internet. "We've been looking forward to it for a while now," said Troy Bourque, an IDS representative who is overseeing the transition. Bourque said IDS offers a number of technologies, including a faster class of DSL service. "Right now, we're limited to 6 megabits under the equipment Bayou is using," Bourque said. According to Bourque, IDS offers DSL services that cap out at 24 megabits, roughly four times faster than current Bayou Internet technologies. Bourque acknowledged that Bayou Internet has a long history and a very loyal customer base throughout Louisiana. "We look forward to rewarding that loyalty with new and better products," Bourque said. Bayou Internet began as a bulletin board service in July of 1990. Bayou began offering email subscriptions and dialup access to the Internet in 1994 and was incorporated in 1995. By 2000, Bayou had more than 15,000 customers in three states. In addition to numerous service areas, or POPS, throughout Louisiana, Bayou Internet also has operated Internet POPS in Mississippi and Alabama. Bayou Internet offers dialup, broadband, wireless and business class services. Holladay said IDS would continue to operate under the Bayou Internet name. Also, the company will maintain an office and staffing presence in Monroe, according to Scroggin and Bourque.