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| US Cable Group was founded in 1975 by Stephen E. Myers, Chairman, and
Michael Anderson, Executive Vice President. President and CEO is James D.
Pearson who joined US Cable in 1982 as Chief Financial Officer. |
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| From 1975 to 1980, US Cable's primary focus was on acquiring cable television systems throughout the United States, with the backing of outside investors. |
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Between 1980 and 1985, the shareholders of US Cable Corporation concentrated on winning community franchise rights and building cable television systems. In 1980, in Lake County, Illinois, US Cable constructed, in conjunction with the Jerrold Electronics division of General Instruments Corporation, the world's first 52 channel, 400 MHz turnkey cable television system utilizing one way addressable technology. In the early 1980's, franchises were awarded covering 250,000 homes, the majority of which were located in the metropolitan Chicago area.
In 1984, Robert Myers joined US Cable Group as President of US Realty
Corporation. To this day, US Realty’s focus has been commercial and
residential property development throughout the United States, primarily
focusing on the Northeast. |
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From 1985 to 1989, US Cable focused on expanding existing franchises where economically feasible, improving system operations to enhance service and maximize cash flow and by making selected cable system acquisitions. During this time the company built over 5,000 miles of cable plant.
In 1986, US Cable was awarded the Paterson, New Jersey franchise and became a partner with the City in the development and application of high-speed data transmission using broadband coaxial cable technology. US Cable constructed a two-way, interactive, 77 channel communications network providing cable TV to over 23,000 customers while simultaneously
transmitting data to and from the 135 major traffic intersections in the city that monitor and control the traffic flow.
US Cable was a joint venture partner with Telecommunications, Inc. ("TCI"), for over 12 years. The first venture was in Northern Indiana when TCI became a strategic investor in 1983 by acquiring a 50 percent interest in the system. The second TCI joint venture occurred in Paterson, New Jersey in 1986. In 1992, a TCI affiliate, Liberty Media, acquired a 50 percent interest in all of the remaining domestic cable properties of US Cable. In 1994, TCI reacquired Liberty Media and subsequently both companies were acquired by
AT&T. |
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In July, 1997, TCI purchased the systems in Indiana, Illinois and New Jersey
and US Cable retained the systems in South Carolina, Georgia and Texas. Beginning in early 1989 and operating under the name Comment Cablevision, US Cable received awards for five (5) U.K. cable/telephony franchises covering in the aggregate approximately one million homes.
In each area, US Cable took the lead as the managing and controlling partner but had a telephone company minority partner that collaborated in the application process. The first award was the Tyneside area of 340,000 homes in the Northeast of England with telephone partner, U S West. The second and third awards were with Nynex for two portions of the greater Manchester market for 313,000 homes. The fourth and final awards were for the Wearside area of 200,000 homes in the Northeast of England and the Worcester-Redditch area of 70,000 homes near Birmingham, England. Both were with Canadian telephone partner, Bruncor, Inc. parent company of New Brunswick Telephone Co.
In 1990, a cable/telephony system was constructed with U S West in the
Tyneside area shortly after the franchise award. It was subsequently
acquired by U S West in 1991. Over the three year period from 1991 to 1994,
US Cable divested its position in all five of its U.K. cable franchises.
In 1995, the company developed an international telecommunications provider
called TelePassport. Over the next three years switches were installed in
London, New York, Frankfurt and Vienna to take advantage of the growing demand for international telecommunications. The company was sold to Primus Telecommunications in
1998.
In January 1995,
the principals of US Cable purchased Facilities
Communications International. Initially named US Telcom, the Company was
renamed to Smart City Networks. Smart City Networks has expanded the
successful concept of integrating telephony and hospitality expertise to
create one of the world's largest integrated communications companies,
providing "last mile" services to the convention and hospitality industries.
In 1996, US Cable group formed SUFI Network Services, Inc. after the award
of a long-term contract by the United States Air Force to install, operate
and maintain the telecommunication systems in lodging facilities throughout
Europe.
In December 1998, US Cable of Paramus-Hillsdale, LLC was formed after the
FTC ordered Cablevision Systems Corp to divest of certain assets in the
boroughs of Paramus and Hillsdale, New Jersey. Cablevision had originally
acquired these assets earlier in 1998, when it bought the New Jersey and New
York operations from Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI). Cablevision was soon
ordered to sell the Paramus and Hillsdale portion of the TCI assets to
preserve the existing cable competition in these towns. With a new
state-of-the-art communication facility and fiber optic backbone, US Cable
of Paramus-Hillsdale LLC created a "two way" interactive cable system,
offering its customers innovative services such as "Digital Cable" and "High
Speed Internet."
In April 1999, US Cable Group continued to focus its attention on the cable
television business with the purchase of 70,000 new subscribers. At the same
time, Telecommunications Inc (and Subsequently AT&T) became a partner by
contributing 23,500 Subscribers in return for a partnership interest. This
transaction marked the second partnership with TCI/AT&T. Today, the company
is the 23rd largest cable MSO with 145,000 subscribers and is 48% owned by
AT&T Broadband, with the remaining 52% owned by the principals of US Cable
Group.
In December 1999, Warp Drive Networks was formed and a cutting edge high
speed wireless data service was launched using 2.4ghz technology. Warp Drive
Networks was one of the first companies in New Jersey to offer high speed
wireless internet service and proved that this technology was both effective
and a reliable alternative to traditional T-1 service, without the local
loop charges. Warp Drive is also the name US Cable adopted for its high
speed cable modem service that is being deployed throughout the different
systems nationwide.
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In September 2000, US Cable of Paramus-Hillsdale LLC announced the
acquisition of National Internet Source, Inc. (NIS). This acquisition would
allow US Cable of Paramus-Hillsdale LLC the opportunity to offer a whole new
plateau of services and grow its existing internet business. Combining the
services of these two great companies allowed US Cable of Paramus-Hillsdale,
LLC to bundle traditional cable services with new high-speed Internet
services. US Cable of Paramus-Hillsdale, LLC now offers a full suite of
telecommunication products including web hosting, co-location, and tower
rental.
In August 2000, Smart City Telecom was formed and the assets of Vista United
were acquired in March 2001. Smart City Telecom, a communications services
operating company in the Smart City family, is a certificated Incumbent
Local Exchange Carrier servicing the Walt Disney World Resort Complex, the
world's premiere resort destination, and nearby commercial and residential
areas.
In May 2001, Smart City Solutions was formed to offer voice and data
services in the Orlando market. In September the company was awarded a
ten-year exclusive contract to provide data services at the Orange County
Convention Center. In December Walt Disney World Co. awarded the company an
exclusive five-year contract to provide data services at six Disney hotels.
In May 2002, Smart City Solutions was awarded a ten-year exclusive contract
to provide voice services at the Orange County Convention Center.
In April 2002, Smart City On-Line was formed to acquire the Orlando assets
of CAVU/e-xpedient, a local wireless internet service provider. Smart City
On-Line operates a 38 Ghz wireless SONET ring in downtown Orlando that
connects several of the largest office buildings.
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