[1st-mile-nm] TDS Acquires Baja Broadband in 2013

[Richard Lowenberg]

Chris,
Here's an article from 2013 (excerpt) that provides requested context.
RL
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Telephone and Data Systems Agrees to Acquire Baja Broadband
Supports TDS Telecom broadband and video growth strategy
 
http://www.mcpartners.com/news/articles/?doc=tds-baja
 
CHICAGO, Feb. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [NYSE: TDS], parent company to TDS Telecommunications Corp. (TDS Telecom), today announced an agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Baja Broadband, LLC ("Baja"), a cable company headquartered in Alamogordo, New Mexico, for a purchase price of $267.5 million, subject to working capital and other adjustments. Baja generated annual revenues of $82.4 million in 2012, and has approximately 285 employees. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2013, pending regulatory approvals.
 
Baja Broadband is a full-service communications company, providing video, high-speed broadband and voice services to residential and commercial customers in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Utah.
 
"Baja Broadband is a natural extension of our existing businesses, with significant potential to deliver increased returns over time," said David A. Wittwer , president and CEO, TDS Telecom. "Our strategy is to leverage our expertise and existing platform and technologies to accelerate growth in underserved, high-potential markets. We plan to build on Baja's solid customer base and upgraded network to increase penetration and revenues with new services and products and outstanding customer experiences. And our experience with commercial customers will enable us to target new services and products to this fast-growing sector in Baja's service areas."
 
As of Dec. 31, 2012, Baja passed approximately 212,000 homes, with approximately 74,000 video subscribers, 56,000 high-speed broadband subscribers and 15,000 digital voice subscribers. Approximately 96 percent of Baja's network is equipped to deliver high-speed, high-capacity broadband and video services.

(Snip)

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On Dec 15, 2014, at 9:03 AM, Christopher Mitchell wrote:

> Can someone provide a little more context?  Is this acquisition removing a provider from a market?  Which is to say, are these communities where TDS is basically buying out its competition? 
> 
> Christopher Mitchell
> Director, Community Broadband Networks
> Institute for Local Self-Reliance
> 
> http://www.muninetworks.org
> @communitynets
> 612-276-3456 x209
> 
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> On Sun, Dec 14, 2014 at 10:52 PM, Richard Lowenberg <rl at 1st-mile.org> wrote:
> From back in June:
> 
> http://www.tdstelecom.com/MediaRoom/Article.aspx?id=c998181e-f98b-4b96-ac9f-70d4ba8c7701  
> 
> June 03, 2014
> 
> Broadband provider to expand services, upgrade network in Lovington and Socorro
> 
> TDS Baja Broadband LLC (Baja Broadband) announces the purchase of two cable markets in Lovington and Socorro, New Mexico from Comcast Cable for approx. $1.9 million. The deal was completed on June 2, 2014 following required regulatory and local franchise authority approvals.
> 
> The properties are near several existing Baja markets in the state which will increase Baja’s geographic concentration in New Mexico. All five Comcast employees supporting the Lovington and Socorro communities will retain their jobs and transfer to Baja Broadband.
> 
> “We plan to perform a complete system rebuild to provide nationally competitive TV, phone and high speed Internet services for customers in both Lovington and Socorro,” explains Mark Barber, vice president of Cable Operations for TDS Telecom and Baja Broadband. “We expect our new products to be head and shoulders above the local phone company and existing cable offerings.”
> 
> (snip)
>  
> 
> TDS Baja Broadband LLC, headquartered in Alamogordo, N.M., employs 260 people and passes more than 210,000 homes. Baja Broadband is a full service telecommunications company offering residential and commercial video, high-speed Internet, phone and data services in communities  throughout Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas and Utah. Visit bajabroadband.com.
> 
> Baja Broadband is a TDS® Company. TDS Telecom, headquartered in Madison, Wis., operates OneNeck® IT Solutions LLC and TDS Baja Broadband LLC. Combined, the company employs 3,100 people. Visit tdstelecom.com.
> 
> Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [NYSE: TDS], a Fortune 500® company, provides wireless; cable and wireline broadband, TV and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately 5.8 million customers nationwide through its subsidiaries TDS Telecom and U.S. Cellular®. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, Telephone and Data Systems employs 10,600 people. Visit teldta.com.
> 
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------
> Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
> 1st-Mile Institute          www.1st-mile.org  
> P. O.  Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM    87504
> 505-603-5200                 rl at 1st-mile.org
> ---------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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---------------------------------------------------------
Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
1st-Mile Institute          www.1st-mile.org  
P. O.  Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM    87504
505-603-5200                 rl at 1st-mile.org
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