USURF acquires two Denver-area wireless providers

Fixed wireless broadband services provider USURF America is expanding beyond its Denver business range by acquiring a pair of companies that give it access to nearby Colorado Springs and to a nascent multi-dwelling unit [MDU] business opportunity.

USURF signed a letter of intent to acquire High Plains Internet, a Colorado Springs-based ISP in a stock-only transaction and NeighborLync, a Denver-area company that specializes in video and data delivery to MDUs.

High Plains is a strategic acquisition for several reasons, said Doug McKinnon, USURF’s CEO.

“They have roof rights [to the two tallest buildings in Colorado Springs, including one with an antenna], a couple towers up, some [dozen or so] customers and some of the infrastructure we’re looking at and can use,” said McKinnon.

That High Plains infrastructure includes a “telephone hotel, so we’re zero miles from broadband access now and have the ability of buying from several suppliers there,” he said.

NeighborLync, he said, gives USURF access to MDUs and planned multi-home developments.

“NeighborLync is actually in partnership with the developers to put in the infrastructure for the planned communities and MDUs,” McKinnon said.

This includes a 15-year exclusive contract with a 376-unit townhouse/MDU/single family dwelling complex in Greeley.

“By acquiring them now, we’re getting revenue up front by installing the infrastructure. Now we’re able to get revenues on the front end as well as recurring revenue on the back end,” he said.

USURF’s uses fixed wireless technologies in the 2.4 and 5.8 GHz 802.11b unlicensed spectrum to deliver high-speed quick-hit Internet access to communities that lack access to cable or DSL connectivity.

Although the company can provide mobile connectivity, “that’s not what we’re pushing,” McKinnon said. “We’re pushing point-to-multipoint so that actually we can provide services on more of a fixed basis to the residential and small business owner.”