Internet America
{{Infobox company
| name = Internet America
| fate = Acquired by JAB Broadband
| foundation = {{start date and age|1995}}
| founder = Robert Maynard Jr.
| defunct = {{end date and age|2015|07|23}}
| location = Houston, Texas
}}
Internet America was an Internet service provider that operated in Texas. In 2015, it was acquired by JAB Broadband and folded into Rise Broadband.
History
The company was founded in 1995 by Robert Maynard Jr.
On December 11, 1998, the company became a public company via an initial public offering. Its stock rose 14.4% on its first day of trading.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/1998/12/21/story2.html | title=Internet firms eye the IPO 'gravy train' | first1=Jeff | last1=Bounds |first2=Rusty | last2=Cawley | work=American City Business Journals | date=December 20, 1998}}
In February 1999, the company acquired Compunet for approximately $2 million.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/1999/02/01/daily2.html | title=Internet America acquires CompuNet | work=American City Business Journals | date=February 1, 1999}} The company also acquired CyberRamp.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/1999/02/15/daily11.html | title=Internet America acquires CyberRamp | work=American City Business Journals | date=February 19, 1999}}
In July 1999, the company acquired NeoSoft for $7.3 million in cash.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/1999/06/28/daily10.html | title=Internet service provider acquires Neosoft | work=American City Business Journals | date=July 1, 1999}}
In August 1999, the company acquired INTX.Networking LLC from founder Sardar Biglari.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/1999/08/02/story2.html | title=Geek Internet provider buys out INTX.Net | first=Sebastian | last=Weiss | work=American City Business Journals | date=August 1, 1999}}
In September 1999, the company acquired PDQ.net for stock worth $32 million. The combined company had 145,000 subscribers.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/1999/09/13/daily1.html | title=Internet America acquires PDQ.net | work=American City Business Journals | date=September 13, 1999}}
In December 1999, during the dot-com bubble, the company's stock doubled in value in a single day with no specific news.{{cite news | url=https://money.cnn.com/1999/12/21/investing/ecn/ | title=Tuesday's after-hours trading | work=CNN | date=December 21, 1999}}
On August 14, 2001, the company's shares were delisted from the NASDAQ.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2001/08/13/daily21.html | title=Internet America delisted from Nasdaq | work=American City Business Journals | date=August 14, 2001}}
In 2003, the company reduced its headcount from 109 to 70 and also reduced its occupied office space.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2005/10/31/story6.html | title=Internet America's Dallas presence dwindles | first=Mary Ann | last=Azevedo | work=American City Business Journals | date=October 30, 2005}}
In November 2004, the company acquired My Linux ISP.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2004/11/01/daily20.html | title=Internet America acquires My Linux ISP | work=American City Business Journals | date=November 2, 2004}}
In October 2005, Glen Blackmon was named president and chief operating officer of the company.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2005/10/24/story5.html | title=Internet America makes executive decision in Houston | first=Mary Ann | last=Azevedo | work=American City Business Journals | date=October 20, 2005}}
In January 2006, the company acquired 2Fast Communications.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2006/01/16/daily10.html | title=Internet America agrees to buy San Antonio ISP | work=American City Business Journals | date=January 17, 2006}}
In 2006, the company moved its headquarters from Dallas to Houston.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2006/01/09/daily38.html | title=Internet America moving headquarters to Houston | work=American City Business Journals | date=January 12, 2006}}
On December 26, 2006, Glen Blackmon resigned.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2006/12/25/daily6.html | title=Blackmon resigns as president of Internet America | work=American City Business Journals | date=December 26, 2006}}
In November 2008, the company announced a merger with KeyOn Communications Holdings.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2008/11/17/daily11.html | title=Internet America to merge with KeyOn Communications | work=American City Business Journals | date=November 18, 2008}} However, in February 2009, the merger was terminated.{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090224006513/en/Internet-America-Terminates-Proposed-Merger-KeyOn-Communications | title=Internet America Terminates Proposed Merger with KeyOn Communications | publisher=Business Wire | date=February 24, 2009}}
In June 2009, the company named Mark White, former Governor of Texas, as the special counsel for development of broadband networks in rural areas.{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090630006247/en/Internet-America-Names-Texas-Governor-Special-Counsel | title=Internet America Names Former Texas Governor as Special Counsel on Rural Broadband Development | publisher=Business Wire | date=June 30, 2009}}
In 2015, the company was acquired by JAB Broadband and folded into Rise Broadband.{{cite press release | url=https://gulfstargroup.com/press-releases/view/internet-america-inc.-has-been-acquired-by-jab-broadband | title=Internet America, Inc. Has Been Acquired by JAB Broadband | publisher=Gulfstar Group | date=July 23, 2015}}