Rural Telco Consolidation is Goal of USConnect

At least five rural telcos are embracing the idea that companies such as theirs need to consolidate.

Those companies back in March created a new entity known as USConnect Holdings that aims to acquire other rural and independent communications providers. “USConnect is an industry-rooted effort committed to sustaining the financial and operational viability of rural and independent communications providers,” said a USConnect press release to announce the organization’s first acquisition – Livingston Telephone Company of Livingston, TX. Five rural telcos are the “majority investors” in USConnect, a USConnect spokeswoman told Telecompetitor this morning. The spokeswoman declined to reveal the names of minority investors.

The five rural telco majority investors are:

• Golden West Telecommunications of Wall, SD
• Horry Telephone Cooperative of Conway, SC
• Telephone Cooperative of Kingstree, SC
• Brazoria Telephone Company of Brazoria, TX
• Dickey Rural Networks of Ellendale, ND