ignal is acquiring small rural telephone companies with fewer than 5,000 access lines. We have acquired such companies in several states. We are looking for additional acquisitions and will respond to inquiries promptly.

There are approximately 1,300 local exchange telephone companies in the US. Numerous small companies serve the rural areas. Many of these are small privately held companies – often owned by the same family since the beginning of the telephone industry. The rural telephone sector is in a consolidation process. A variety of concerns of family-held companies, such as estate planning, inter-generational transfer issues, liquidity and asset diversification, have led many closely-held rural exchanges to become receptive to the correct approach from a credentialed buyer.

Signal has launched Signal Telcom Partners which is a primary buyer of small rural telephone exchanges. We provide the opportunity for small companies to join a larger platform of companies with operational synergies, deeper resources, economies of scale, and diversified risk. We also understand the sensitive nature of selling family-owned businesses that have strong local ties. We typically maintain local management control and commitment to the community. Our goal is to build a company with over 50,000 access lines over the long term.