BRENHAM ISP TO BE ACQUIRED BY GIDDINGS COMPETITOR

  

An Internet service provider in Lee County is looking to expand its coverage area by purchasing a Brenham-based competitor.

ZochNet of Giddings has announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Texas Broadband, Inc.

ZochNet CFO Roger Turner said in a release this acquisition will expand the company’s current coverage area with ten more counties, and increase its tower network by adding 56 towers. He said this will bring the company to 18 counties served with 138 towers.

Texas Broadband, founded by President Warren Smith, has been operated by three generations of the Smith family since 2002, growing to cover 18 counties. ZochNet CEO and founder Robert Zoch said he and Smith worked together while Zoch’s company was getting started, and said Smith was “invaluable in ZochNet’s early days”.

Smith said after building his business, he could see 5G and fiber technologies were going to start impacting the fixed wireless market, and that ZochNet was wanting to expand to “be on top of the industry changes”.  He said it has come “full circle” since he met Zoch, who he said is now helping him and his family “enjoy the fruits of our labor”, while also bringing upgraded technologies to their former customers.

Turner said ZochNet plans to keep Texas Broadband’s six existing employees, while the management team of Texas Broadband plans on retiring from the industry.

According to ZochNet officials, this is the company’s second acquisition in 24 months. The company in 2017 acquired Lexington-based Reveille Broadband, a cable TV and Internet provider in seven rural towns throughout the area.

The deal between ZochNet and Texas Broadband, Inc. is subject to approval from the U.S. Small Business Administration. It is expected to close within the next two months.