Internet America
Internet America (OTCQB: GEEK) is an American Internet service provider headquartered in northwest unincorporated Harris County, Texas,[1] near Houston.[2]
History
Internet America received its first subscriber in January 1995. In March of that year it had over 3,500 subscribers.[3]
In 1999 Internet America bought the ISP PDQ.net for stock worth $32 million.[4] In November 1999 the purchase was finalized, and the combined entity had over 145,000 subscribers.[5]
Internet America was headquartered in One Dallas Centre in Downtown Dallas.[6] Between October 2003 and October 2004, Internet America reduced the space it held at One Dallas Centre from 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2) to around 19,000 square feet (1,800 m2). In March 2004, of the 109 employees, 102 of them were in the Dallas area. By September 30, it had 70 employees, with 34 in Dallas. By then the company was using a portion of the top floor of One Dallas Centre, and that portion was available for sublease. Previously the company held the entire floor. In 2005 Internet America had offices in Greenway Plaza in Houston and the Houston suburb of Stafford. In addition, over the past 12 months before October 2005, it had established offices in Corsicana, Floresville, and Hillsboro in Texas. During that year the chairman and CEO and the president and COO lived in the Houston area.[7]
In January 2006 the company announced that it would move the corporate headquarters, accounting department, and finance departments from Dallas to the Houston area. The company planned to retain some offices in Dallas.[8][9] The company moved in early 2006.[10] As of June 30, 2006 Internet America had around 37,000 active subscribers.[3]
In November 2008 the company announced that it would merge with KeyOn Communications Holdings, a company with its headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska, in a stock for stock transaction.[11] In March 2009 the agreement to merge was terminated.[12]
On June 30, 2009, the company announced that Mark White, former Governor of Texas, was the company's special counsel for development of broadband networks in rural areas.[13]
On June 1st 2015, the company was purchased by Rise Broadband.
References
- ^ "Internet America, Inc. Agreements and Policies." Internet America. Retrieved on September 25, 2009. "Internet America c/o Equipment Returns 10930 W. Sam Houston Pkwy N. Ste. 200 Houston, TX 77064"
- ^ "Internet America Names Former Texas Governor as Special Counsel on Rural Broadband Development." Fox Business. Tuesday June 30, 2009. Retrieved on September 25, 2009.
- ^ a b "Company Information." Internet America. Retrieved on September 25, 2009.
- ^ "Internet America to buy PDQ.net for $32 million." The Dallas Morning News. September 14, 1999. Retrieved on September 25, 2009.
- ^ "Article: Internet America Finalizes Acquisition of PDQ.Net; Over 145,000 Subscribers for Combined Entity." PR Newswire. November 23, 1999. Retrieved on September 25, 2009.
- ^ "About Us." Internet America. January 1, 2000. Retrieved on September 25, 2009.
- ^ Azevedo, Mary Ann. "Internet America's Dallas presence dwindles." Dallas Business Journal. Friday October 28, 2005. Retrieved on September 25, 2009.
- ^ "Internet America Announces New CFO and Relocation of Headquarters." PR Newsire. January 12, 2006. Retrieved on September 25, 2009.
- ^ "Internet America moving headquarters to Houston." Dallas Business Journal. Thursday January 12, 2006. Retrieved on September 25, 2009.
- ^ "Blackmon resigns as president of Internet America." Houston Business Journal. Tuesday December 26, 2006. Retrieved on September 25, 2009.
- ^ "Internet America to merge with KeyOn Communications." San Antonio Business Journal. Tuesday November 18, 2008. Retrieved on September 25, 2009.
- ^ "News: Web Hosting Provider Merger for Internet America, Keyon, Terminated." The Hosting News. March 12, 2009. Retrieved on September 25, 2009.
- ^ "Internet America Names Former Texas Governor as Special Counsel on Rural Broadband Development." Internet America, posted at Fox Business Network. Tuesday June 30, 2009. Retrieved on September 26, 2009.
