0001579586-16-000023.txt : 20161129
0001579586-16-000023.hdr.sgml : 20161129
20161129131436
ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001579586-16-000023
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 1-A/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3
FILED AS OF DATE: 20161129
DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20161129
FILER:
COMPANY DATA:
COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Southern Tier Region Rural Broadband Company, Inc.
CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001587999
STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: RADIO TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS [4812]
IRS NUMBER: 463729145
STATE OF INCORPORATION: NY
FISCAL YEAR END: 1216
FILING VALUES:
FORM TYPE: 1-A/A
SEC ACT: 1933 Act
SEC FILE NUMBER: 024-10456
FILM NUMBER: 162022090
BUSINESS ADDRESS:
STREET 1: 1050 CONNECTICUT AVE., NW
STREET 2: SUITE 500
CITY: WASHINGTON
STATE: DC
ZIP: 20036
BUSINESS PHONE: 2022363427
MAIL ADDRESS:
STREET 1: 1050 CONNECTICUT AVE., NW
STREET 2: SUITE 500
CITY: WASHINGTON
STATE: DC
ZIP: 20036
1-A/A
1
primary_doc.xml
1-A/A
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0001587999
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024-10456
false
false
false
Southern Tier Region Rural Broadband Company, Inc.
NY
2013
0001587999
7380
46-3729145
1
3
1050 CONNECTICUT AVE., NW
SUITE 500
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
202-2363427
Tony Ramos
Other
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Unaudited
Equity (common or preferred stock)
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true
PART II AND III
2
stroffstmt2.txt
STR OFF STMT
AMENDED REGULATION A - TIER, AS AMENDED, JOBS ACT
NARRATIVE SUPPLEMENT TO ELECTRONIC FORM 1-A
OFFERING STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
IN APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION BY QUALIFICATION BY:
STATE OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
INVESTOR PROTECTION BUREAU
November 25, 2016
SOUTHERN TIER REGION RURAL BROADBAND COMPANY, INC. (STR)
Issuing Company: Southern Tier Region Rural Broadband Company, Inc.
Issuer's Representative & Agent for Service of Process: Tony Ramos, President
1050 Connecticut Ave., NW
Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20036
202-642-5238
tramos@urbroadband.com
IRS EIN # 47-2114019 CLASSIFICATION CODE NUMBER: 522220
An offering application that is filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission of the United States Government with the filing of Form 1-A,
as amended, effective June 19, 2015. A Reg. A. - Tier 1 application, for
which final compliance is made by the registration for qualification
application that is made with the State of New York - Office of the
Attorney General - Investor Protection Bureau.
TABLE OF CONTENTS - PER FORM 1-A, AS AMENDED BY NEW REG. A
TABLE OF CONTENTS.....................................................i-ii
INTRODUCTION..........................................................1
ITEM 1. SIGNIFICANT PARTIES LIST......................................1-4
ITEM 2. APPLICATION OF RULE 262.......................................4-5
ITEM 3. AFFILIATE SALES...............................................5
ITEM 4. JURISDICTIONS IN WHICH SECURITIES ARE TO BE OFFERED...........5
ITEM 5. UNREGISTERED SECURITIES ISSUED OR SOLD WITHIN ONE YEAR........6-7
ITEM 6. OTHER PRESENT OR PROPOSED OFFERINGS...........................7 ITEM
7. MARKETING ARRANGEMENTS.............................................7-8
ITEM 8. RELATIONSHIP WITH STR OF EXPERTS NAMED IN OFFERING STATEMENT..9
ITEM 9. USE OF A SOLICITATION DOCUMENT TO INDICATE
WHETHER OR NOT A PUBLICATION AUTHORIZED BY RULE 254
WAS USED PRIOR TO THE FILING OF THIS NOTIFICATION.....................10
i
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AS REQUIRED BY PART III
OF FORM REGULATION A, AS AMENDED......................................10
ii
INTRODUCTION.
Southern Tier Region Rural Broadband Company, Inc. (hereinafter, STR),
has made a registration by qualification application for Regulation A,
as amended, JOBS Act - Tier 1 - with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC). Final SEC registration will be accomplished
upon qualification by the State of New York - Office of the Attorney
General - Investor Protection Unit.
Statements made in this Offering Statement, are forward-looking.
The information contained in this Offering Statement adds to, and makes
more readable, the information that is contained on the electronic Form
1-A. This Offering Statement should not be taken as a substitute for
Form 1-A. A copy of the electronic Form 1-A is made a part of this New
York Registration by Qualification Application.
ITEM 1. Significant Parties
List the full names and business and residential addresses, as
applicable, for the following persons:
(a) STR's directors: Tony Ramos, Chairman
Business address:
1050 Connecticut Ave., NW
Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20036
Home address:
1805 Key Blvd.
Apt. 513
Arlington, VA 22201
1
David J. Karre, M.B.A, M.L.S., (retired) Vice Chairman of the Board
Home address:
4153 Marietta Dr.
Vestal, NY 13850
Rex R. Helwig
Business address:
Finger Lakes Library System
1300 Dryden Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
Home address:
6 Sunset Ave.
Cortland, NY 13045
(b) STR's officers:
Tony Ramos, President
David J. Karre, M.B.A, M.L.S., Vice President and Secretary
Rex R. Helwig, Treasurer
(c) as STR is a for-profit C corporation, it does not have 'general
partners,' in the sense that limited liability companies have such;
(d) record owners of 5 percent or more of any class of STR's equity
securities: Rural Broadband Company, Inc., owns 55% of STR. Lusosystems,
Inc. owns 10% of STR.
2
All shares of all shareholders, and all shares to be offered in this
offering circular are common/voting shares;
(e) there are no beneficial owners of any shares in STR, and thus, no
beneficial owners of 5 percent or more of any class of STR's equity
securities:
(f) promoters of STR:
There are no promoters of STR as of yet, until qualification;
(g) affiliates of STR: STR has no affiliates;
(h) counsel to STR with respect to the proposed offering:
STR has no counsel who appear as 'of record' for it at this time; (i)
each underwriter with respect to the proposed offering: STR has, as of
yet, no underwriters, or any other third-party sellers, because it has
not yet been qualified. Upon qualification, and consistent with Reg. A+
rules, and rules of the State of New York, STR will, immediately, seek
to retain said third-party sellers, and will, accordingly, and as
required by such rules and laws, make any further amendments to this
offering statement as to be in compliance with said rules and laws;
(j) the underwriter's directors: Consistent with Item 1 (i), above,
there are no underwriter's directors; (k) the underwriter's
officers: Consistent with Item 1 (i), above, there are no
underwriter's directors;
(l) the underwriter's general partners:
Consistent with Item 1 (i), above, there are no underwriter's directors;
3
(m) counsel to the underwriter:
Consistent with Item 1 (i), above, there are no underwriter's counsel;
ITEM 2. Application of Rule 262
(a) State whether any of the persons identified in response to Item 1 are
subject to any of the disqualification provisions set forth in Rule 262:
There are no persons identified in response to Item 1 who are subject to
any disqualification provisions set forth in Rule 262;
(b) If any such person is subject to these provisions, provide a full
description including pertinent names, dates and other details, as well
as whether or not an application has been made pursuant to Rule 262 for
a waiver of such disqualification and whether or not such application
has been granted or denied:
There are no persons identified in response to Item 1
who are subject to any disqualification provisions set forth in Rule
262;
(c) Supplement to this Amended Offering Statement, in reply to the
Commission's letter, dated July 24, 2015: correction of inadvertent
error as to the box checked on Item 3 of the online Form 1-A.
Through inadvertence, the applicant checked the second box on this section.
After discussion with Commission counsel pursuant to the Commission's
letter to which this reply is directed, the applicant has unchecked the
second box.
The Commission's letter, in any event, seeks further information and
clarification with respect to this section.
Under 17 CFR 230.262 (a) & (b), for the following reasons, the applicant
has now corrected the inadvertence and declares here that neither STR,
under (a), nor any of STR's representatives or other persons under (b)
are subject to the provisions of this Rule.
4
As a threshold matter, under (a)(4) there are no matters under a
'court of competent jurisdiction,' meaning an Article III forum, for
which STR has ever been the subject of any matter.
Similarly, under (b)(2), for the same reasons, no persons are similarly
subject to Rule 262.
Further, none of the applicant companies have received any contact
from any State Blue Sky enforcement offices, including STR.
ITEM 3. Affiliate Sales
If any part of the proposed offering involves
the resale of securities by affiliates of STR[1], confirm that the
following description does not apply to STR: STR has not had a net
income from operations of the character in which STR intends to engage
for at least one of its last two fiscal years:
The proposed offering does not involve the resale of securities by affiliates[2]
of STR. ITEM
4. Jurisdictions in Which Securities Are to be Offered
(a) List the jurisdiction in which the securities are to be offered by
underwriters, dealers or salespersons:
The securities will be offered in such jurisdictions where such
third-party sellers are authorized to sell them. All marketing and sales
for the first $6 million[3] of this offering will be conducted, as
permitted by the Reg. A+ rules, only by such third-party sellers;
(b) List the jurisdictions in which the securities are to be offered
other than by underwriters, dealers or salesmen and state the method by
which such securities are to be offered:
STR intends no offering of the securities other than by the third-party
sellers. STR seeks registration by qualification in compliance with the
Blue Sky requirement of Tier 1, only in the State of New York. The $6
million[4] of this offering, for which this registration application is
limited, is to be sold only by third-party sellers.
[1] STR has no affiliates.
[2] STR has no affiliates.
[3] The minimum of this offering is $ 3 million and the maximum of this
offering is $6 million.
[4] The minimum of this offering is $ 3 million and the maximum of this
offering is $6 million.
5
ITEM 5. Unregistered Securities Issued or Sold Within One Year
(a) As to any unregistered securities issued by STR, or any of its predecessors
or affiliated issuers within one year prior to the filing of this Form 1-A,
state:
(1) the name of such Issuer:
Southern Tier Region Rural Broadband Company, Inc.;
(2) the title and amount of securities issued:
JOBS Act/Rule 506, with form Regulation D filed with the SEC for 352,943
shares, common/voting per Rule 506 rules (SEC CIK #: 0001587999). The
registration may be viewed, as shown on the SEC's EDGAR electronic
system, here:
https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?CIK=0001587999&action=getcompany
The issuer on Form Reg. D, and for this offering statement, STR, are one
and the same.
(3) the aggregate offering price or other consideration
for which they were issued and basis for computing the amount thereof:
Per Rule 506, limiting share prices to one price and one class: $100 per
share, based upon computing the amount needed for project funding;
(4) the names and identities of the persons to whom the securities were
issued:
those persons listed in this Amended Offering Statement, and in addition:
A . Michael D. Lang, registered broker at Wells Fargo, personal issue,
not for sale - shares for services - company organizing liaison
with Mr. Ramos in Washington, D.C.;
6
B. Colleen Ehrhart, graphics artist/logo designer - shares
for services - extensive web design with no monetary compensation;
C. Anthony J. Castaldo, company pioneer, interconnector
Designer - shares for services - extensive technology work,
with very little compensation;
(b) As to any unregistered securities of STR, or any of its predecessors
or affiliated issuers which were sold within one year prior to the
filing of this Form 1-A by or for the account of any person who at the
time was a director, officer, promoter or principal security holder of
STR of such securities, or was an underwriter of any securities of STR,
furnish the information specified in subsections (1) through (4) of
paragraph (a):
There have been no sales of any unregistered securities of STR or any of
its predecessors or affiliated issuers which were sold one year prior to
the filing of this Form 1-A, by or for the account of any person who at
the time was a director, officer, promoter or principal security holder
of STR securities, or who was an underwriter of any securities of STR.
(c) Indicate the section of the Securities Act or Commission rule or
regulation relied upon for exemption from the registration requirements
of such Act and state briefly the facts relied upon for such exemption:
Section: JOBS Act, Rule 506, which may be viewed at: 17 CFR 230.506.
For purposes of clarification, although STR is registered with the SEC
under Rule 506, and seeks qualification by the SEC in this Reg. A+
offering, both before the SEC and the State of New York, STR is seeking
only the registration by qualification as to JOBS Act - Regulation A -
Tier 1 with respect to the State of New York.
Facts relied on: in accordance with JOBS Act rules and regulations as
published in the Federal Register, to include, sales for investment
purposes only, single price, single class.
7
ITEM 6. Other Present or Proposed Offerings: state whether or not STR or
any of its affiliates[5] is currently offering or contemplating the
offering of any securities in addition to those covered by this Form
1-A:
With the exception of the Rule 506 offering that is already registered
with the SEC with the filing of Form Reg. D, STR, does not offer, and is
not contemplating offering any securities in addition to those covered
by this Form 1-A, through third-party sellers. To be clear, the SEC has
provided guidance on this issue in stating that the Rule 506 offering
and this Reg. A+ offering may offered in parallel form, and thus, any
sales under each will be governed by the rules and laws of each.
ITEM 7. Marketing Arrangements
(a) Briefly describe any arrangement known to STR or to any person named in
response to Item 1 above or to any selling securityholder in the
offering covered by this Form 1-A for any of the following purposes:
(1) To limit or restrict the sale of other securities of the same class
as those to be offered for the period of distribution:
There are no 'other securities of the same class as those to be offered
for the period of distribution for this Reg. A+ offering.' This said,
upon the completion of the sale of the first $6 million in shares, STR
intends to seek registration by qualification, in order to sell the
remaining $14 million of the $20 million that are authorized to be sold
under Reg. A+ - Tier 1;
(2) To stabilize the market for any of the securities to be offered:
The market is not known, and further, there are no persons known who
have indicated an intent to make any purchases that would stabilize the
market for the securities to be offered;
[5] STR has no affiliates.
8
(3) For withholding commissions, or otherwise to hold each underwriter
or dealer responsible for the distribution of its participation:
There are no arrangements for withholding commissions, or otherwise to hold
each underwriter or dealer responsible for the distribution of its
participation, because there are, as of yet, no such agreements with any
third-party sellers;
(b) Identify any underwriter that intends to confirm sales to any
accounts over which it exercises discretionary authority and include an
estimate of the amount of securities so intended to be confirmed:
As there are no underwriters as of yet, there are no known underwriters who
intend to confirm sales to any accounts over which he/she exercises
discretionary authority and thus, and no estimate of the amount of
securities so intended to be confirmed may be made at this time.
ITEM 8. Relationship with STR of Experts Named in Offering Statement
If any expert named in the offering statement as having prepared or
certified any part thereof was employed for such purpose on a contingent
basis or, at the time of such preparation or certification or at any
time thereafter, had a material interest in STR or any of its parents or
subsidiaries or was connected with STR, or any of its subsidiaries, as a
promoter, underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer or employee
furnish a brief statement of the nature of such contingent basis,
interest or connection:
There are no experts named in this offering statement, none have been
employed as such, none who have a material interest, other than as
shareholders and founders, none who have any connection to STR as a
promoter, underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer, or employee.
Founding shareholders, almost all of whom are executives, have, however,
utilized their own expertise since the group was formed in March, 2009.
9
ITEM 9. Use of a Solicitation of Interest Document
Indicate whether or not a publication authorized by Rule 254 was used
prior to the filing of this notification:
No publication was prepared, and, therefore, none was submitted to the
SEC as of the request for pre-approval of this Offering Statement by the
SEC. Any such proposed future publications will be processed pursuant to
Rule 254.
III. Supplemental Information as Required by Form 1-A
The following supplemental information is furnished:
a) a statement as to whether or not the amount of compensation to be
allowed or paid to the underwriter has been cleared with the NASD:
No underwriting decisions have been made as of the request for
pre-approval of this Offering Statement because STR has not located any
underwriters who are taking the new Regulation A offerings. As such, no,
there is nothing to be cleared with NASD;
b) any engineering, management or similar report referenced in the
offering statement:
no engineering, management or similar reports are referenced in this
offering statement;
c) such other information as requested by the staff in support of
statements, representations and other assertions contained in the
offering statement:
STR certifies that it has, to the best of its ability, replied to all
such supplemental requests by regulators as of the date on the cover of
this document.
10
PART II AND III
3
stroffcirc2.txt
STR OFF CIRC
AMENDED[1]JOBS ACT / REGULATION A, AS AMENDED - OFFERING CIRCULAR[2] THE
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AND THE STATE OF NEW
YORK - OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL - INVESTOR PROTECTION UNIT DO NOT
PASS UPON THE MERITS OF OR GIVE APPROVAL TO ANY SECURITIES OFFERED OR
THE TERMS OF THE OFFERING, OR PASS UPON THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF
ANY OFFERING CIRCULAR OR OTHER SELLING LITERATURE. THESE SECURITIES ARE
OFFERED PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION WITH THE COMMISSION
AND PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION WITH THE STATE OF NEW YORK; HOWEVER,
NEITHER THE COMMISSION NOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAVE MADE AN
INDEPENDENT DETERMINATION THAT THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREUNDER ARE
EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION.[3]
Issuing Company: Southern Tier Region Rural Broadband Company, Inc.
Issuer's Representative: Tony Ramos, President
1050 Connecticut Ave., NW
Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20036
202-642-5238
tramos@urbroadband.com
DATE OF OFFERING CIRCULAR: November 25, 2016
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALES TO THE PUBLIC: UPON
APPROVAL[4]
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES: $3 million / $6,000,000.00[5] common/voting
shares / Tier 1 Regulation A MATERIAL RISK: THE COMPANY HAS NO OPERATING
HISTORY. SEE OTHER RISKS SHOWN IN THIS OFFERING CIRCULAR. MITIGATION OF
RISK FACTOR: THREE-DAY RIGHT OF WITHDRAWAL AFTER SIGNING OF SALES
CONTRACT
UNDERWRITERS: none.
DISTRIBUTION SPREAD TABLE*
Price to public: $100 per share
Underwriting discounts and commissions*: None
Proceeds to Issuer or to other persons per unit: 100% to Issuing company[6]
Termination date: Four years after last qualification date
Total maximum securities offered: 400,000
Total minimum securities offered: 60,000
*Per Model B instructions, investors are advised as
follows: as of the date of qualification by the SEC and the
State of New York, the Issuer has not retained any
third-party sellers, to whom commissions would be paid, and
therefore, no cash or any other commissions would be paid as
of that date. That said, the Issuer will seek such
third-party sellers as they become known, and, upon the
retainer of any, this Offering Circular will be amended,
and, should it have been already provided to any potential
or real investors, will be provided to them as amended, and
the link to the full EDGAR file will also be posted on the
Internet with the original Offering Circular at
www.urbroadband.com.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS......................................................i
I. INTRODUCTION - FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT
DISCLAIMER AND OFFERING SUMMARY........................................1-10
II. ITEM 1. SUMMARY INFORMATION,
RISK FACTORS AND DILUTION..............................................10-25
III. ITEM 2. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION......................................26-27
IV. ITEM 3. USE OF PROCEEDS TO ISSUER..................................28-34
V. ITEM 4 DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS......................................34-44
VI. ITEM 5. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY....................................44-47
VII. ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYEES...47-54
VIII. ITEM 7. REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS...................55
IX. ITEM 8. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
AND CERTAIN SECURITYHOLDERS............................................55-57
X. ITEM 9. INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT
AND OTHERS IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.....................................58-61
XI. ITEM 10. SECURITIES BEING OFFERED..................................61-66
XII. ITEM 11. REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION................................67
i
I.
INTRODUCTION
A. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT DISCLAIMER
This Offering Circular relates to the offer and sale of up
to $6,000,000.00[7] in JOBS Act Regulation A - Tier 1 common
voting shares at the offering price of $100.00 per share, to
be issued by Southern Tier Region Rural Broadband Company,
Inc. (hereinafter, STR.) The parent company, Rural Broadband
Company, Inc. (hereinafter, RBC), posts its JOBS ACT
offerings on its website at www.urbroadband.com. The
principal offices are located at 1050 Connecticut Ave., NW,
Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20036. The phone number for
these offices is (202) 462-5238. This forward-looking
disclaimer is governed by 15 U.S.C SS 78u-5(c).
The statements in this offering circular may contain
'forward-looking statements.' Such statements relate to
future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking
statements often address expected future business and
financial performance and financial condition, and often
contain words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend,"
"plan," "believe," "seek," "see," "will," "would," or
"target." Forward-looking statements, by their nature
address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain,
including expected cash and non-cash charges, expected
income, earnings per share, revenues, organic growth,
margins, cost structure, restructuring charges, cash flows,
return on capital, capital expenditures, capital allocation
or capital structure, and dividends. Particular
uncertainties that could cause actual results to be
materially different than those expressed in these
forward-looking statements may include obtaining or the
timing of obtaining, any required regulatory reviews or
approvals, and the ability to reduce costs as STR executes
on its installations, changes, and/or variations in law,
economic and financial conditions, the impact of conditions
in the existing 'served' broadband market, and variable
conditions that may affect the user adoption rate for
broadband in the unserved areas where WRG plans to make its
installations.
1
Further uncertainties may include the ability to maintain a credit
rating, and the impact on funding costs and competitive position if STR
does not do so, the adequacy of cash flows and earnings, and other
conditions which may affect STR's ability to pay a dividend or to
repurchase shares, which may be affected by its cash flows and earnings,
and other factors.
Other uncertainties may include the inability to convert pre-order
commitments into orders, the price which STR may realize on orders since
commitments are stated at list prices, customer actions or developments
such as cancellations and other factors that may affect the level of
demand and financial performance of the customers which STR serves, the
effectiveness of STR's risk management framework, the impact of
regulation and regulatory, investigative and legal proceedings and legal
compliance risks, including the impact of regulation and litigation,
STR's capital allocation plans, as such plans may change including with
respect to the timing and size of share repurchases, acquisitions, joint
ventures, dispositions and other strategic actions, STR's success in
completing, including obtaining, regulatory and zoning approvals.
Further, uncertainties may limit STR's success in integrating acquired
businesses and operating joint ventures, its ability to realize
anticipated earnings and savings from transactions, to acquire
businesses and joint ventures, the impact of potential information
technology or data security breaches, and other factors are described
throughout this offering circular. These or other uncertainties may
cause STR's actual future results to be materially different than those
expressed in these forward-looking statements. STR does not undertake to
update its forward-looking statements.
STR's public communications and SEC filings may include certain
forward-looking projected financial information that is based on current
estimates and forecasts. Actual results could differ materially.
The securities offered herein are speculative securities. Investment in the
securities involves significant risk, and investors are required to hold
the investment for a definite period of time. The investor should
purchase these securities only if the investor can afford a complete
loss of the investment.
2
No Federal or State securities commission has approved, disapproved,
endorsed, or recommended this offering. The investor should make an
independent decision whether this offering meets the investment
objectives and financial risk tolerance level of the investor. No
independent person has confirmed the accuracy or truthfulness of this
disclosure, nor whether it is complete. Any representation to the
contrary is illegal. Furthermore, these authorities have not passed upon
the accuracy or adequacy of this offering circular. Any representation
to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This offering circular contains all of the representations by the
company concerning this offering. No person shall make different or
broader statements than those contained herein. Investors are cautioned
not to rely upon any information not expressly set forth in this
offering circular.
In making an investment decision, investors must rely on their own
examination of the company and the terms of the offering, including the
merits and risks involved.
The securities being offered have not yet been qualified under Federal
or State law. STR plans to qualify its offering, initially, with the
State of New York as a qualifying State, so that its offering with the
Securities and Exchange Commission may be qualified as a JOBS Act -
Regulation A - Tier 1 Offering. STR plans to require any third-party
sellers to prove to investors, their registration to, and qualification
to sell these securities in the States where they are authorized.
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in or incorporated by
reference in this offering circular, and, if given or made, such
information or representations must not be relied upon as having been
authorized by STR.
The website at www.urbroadband.com and corporate blog located thereon,
as well as Facebook and Twitter, contain a significant amount of general
information about STR. STR encourages investors to visit the website and
social media sites from time to time, as information is updated and new
information is posted.
The investor should consult with any attorneys,
accountants and other professional advisors as to the legal, tax,
accounting and other consequences of an investment in STR.
3
B.OFFERING CIRCULAR SUMMARY
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this Offering
Circular. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the
information that the investor should consider before investing. The
investor should carefully read the entire Offering Circular, especially
concerning the risks associated with the investment in the securities
covered by this Offering Circular discussed throughout this document.
STR uses the term 'STR' to refer to Southern Tier Region Rural Broadband
Company, Inc., a New York corporation. As indicated above, some of the
statements in this offering circular are forward-looking statements.
This Offering Circular relates to the Offering of up to $6,000,000.00[8]
in common voting shares at the asking price of $100 per share, with a
price range of from $15 to $100 per share.
The business originally formed in order make application for Federal
grant funding for rural broadband in the year, 2009. There are now a
group of companies that seek funding from government procurement
opportunities, that is grants and bids, at the Federal and State levels,
including STR. With the advent of the JOBS Act, in 2013, STR added
equity funding to its portfolio of funding sources. Upon funding, STR
seeks to use the proceeds from those sources to build broadband
interconnector infrastructure in what is known as the 'unserved rural
census blocks' and other such areas, in the rural United States.
The group made STR a formal company, after passage of the JOBS Act.
Thus, upon its effective date in 2013, the group registered STR under
JOBS Act, Rule 506, with the filing of Form Regulation D, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (hereinafter, the SEC).
In 2015, the SEC made applicable the second of three JOBS Act offering
opportunities, Regulation A, anecdotally known as Reg. A+. With the
opening of Reg. A+, STR made this application to the SEC. STR has been
notified by the SEC that, upon qualification by a State, as required
under the Reg. A+ Tier 1 rules, the SEC application will be qualified.
4
According to the Federal Communications Commission (hereinafter, the
FCC), there are a minimum of 84,000 census blocks that are unserved for
broadband in the rural United States. There are currently more than 46
million people living in the rural United States. Thus, the task is
quite large.
Because certain rules concerning exempt limited offerings and
transactions govern the exemption, STR started its Rule 506 JOBS Act
offering with a 'one class/one price' format of and asking price of $100
per share/common voting stock. For consistency, STR carries that
scenario into its JOBS Act Reg. A+ offerings, including in this offering
circular. When considering the extensive recitation as to
forward-looking statements shown above, as well as other significant
risk factors discussed throughout this offering circular, including in
this summary, and as otherwise required by JOBS Act rules, STR includes
in any investment contract, a 3-day right of withdrawal clause, as well
as a waiver of the 3-day right of withdrawal.
Investing in STR is not without risks, and there is no guarantee of a
return on investment. The investment contract gives STR the sole
discretion in applying any amounts that it receives from an investor. If
STR becomes subject to a bankruptcy or similar proceeding, a holder of a
security will have a general unsecured claim against STR that may or may
not be limited in recovery.
The intended focus of STR's business is the 'last mile' rural broadband
interconnector sector. STR focuses on rural census blocks that are
deemed 'unserved' for broadband by either the FCC, or any other Federal
agency or Department, or any State. STR may also conduct surveys, where
evidence suggests that, despite not being on any Federal or State map,
there is no broadband in certain rural census block areas.
Proceeds from the investments typically will be applied towards the
installation, first, of the 'connector' or 'middle mile' infrastructure.
The 'last mile' refers to not an actual 'last mile,' but more to the
anecdotal, as if crossing the finish line in a drawn out process. The
'last mile' is, basically, the last part of the outside infrastructure,
say on a residence. For those who have cable of fiber in their home, the
'last mile' is where the connection box on the outside of the home is
located.
For those who have a wireless connection, the 'last mile' is where the
receiving device is placed on the home to receive the wireless signal
from, say, a cell. tower. For those homes that have satellite, the 'last
mile' is basically the dish that is bolted to the home. STR's systems
may include components of wireless, cable, fiber or satellite as a 'last
mile interconnector.'
5
The 'last mile' 'interconnects' with a 'middle mile' interconnector
infrastructure. That is the infrastructure that is, for example, in a
cable/fiber system, running along the right-of-way out by the sidewalk
on a residential street. In a satellite connection, the 'middle mile'
starts at the satellite. With wireless, the 'middle mile' starts at the
place where the wireless signal is sent to the residence, and could be a
cell. tower, a sending radio bolted to a mast to a barn, or a silo on a
farm, as examples.
Interconnector companies like STR do not provide actual program content
to residents. Residents are free to purchase all manner of retail
convenience products and services that make modern life on the internet
more enjoyable. Thus, residents can sign up with their own email
accounts, or use, for example, Gmail. While STR will provide streaming
video equipment, and provide a consumer choice as to what any customer
may want to watch, from Netflix, Hulu, Crackle, HBO or any of the
others, STR does not provide content shows or any other streaming
service. Such distinction keeps separate the key function of the
interconnector sector, infrastructure, from the Broadband Internet
Access Service (hereinafter, BIAS) service provider sector, typically
the local cable company, or, as indicated, streaming video companies.
This specific BIAS definition was expanded in the FCC's most recent
'open Internet' rules.
In the second instance, proceeds from the investment will be applied
towards the installation of 'last mile' outside infrastructure
components at the homes and residences of customers. This function is
much like installing the cable box or satellite dish on the outside of
the home. In some instances, wireless radios that have been approved by
the FCC under a technology called 'white space' will be utilized. In
other areas, however, more traditional wireless technology, known
anecdotally as 'microwave' will be utilized, in each case depending on
the terrain, among other factors. For areas where the terrain completely
prohibits those technologies, STR will make every attempt to provide
satellite interconnector service.
In the third instance, proceeds from the investment, will be applied for
the purchase, installation and customer use of the 'kit' components
inside the home. The 'kit' is basically the same, at this stage of the
installation, as with any other residential service, and investors can
compare what is in their own homes with STR's projected service system.
The 'kit' will include broadband, streaming T.V., smartphone sync with a
VoiP app., cloud storage service components, a tablet device, and a
router for indoor WiFi.
6
Finally, proceeds from the investment will be applied for customer
acquisition, also known as user adoption, and retention, sales and
service. In this regard, advertising will likely mirror what any
consumer views on the T.V. at any time with the broadband and phone
companies. Making sure that a professional customer service and
installation and repair team are in place will be major factors towards
achieving customer acquisition, retention and user adoption. Customer
satisfaction ratings must be a # 1 priority.
In order to achieve the investment proceeds, STR will utilize the
services of professional third-party sellers. The Reg. A+ rules allow
for such sellers that include underwriters, brokers, dealers, sellers
and finders. The rules provide guidance on 'cover' contracts that must
be signed by STR and the third-party sellers. The 'cover' contracts
require certain disclosures, including commission rates, that must be
made public by posting of the contracts on the SEC's electronic filing
system, called EDGAR. Some components, like commission rates, must be,
and will be posted on the cover of this offering circular, once such
sellers are retained. STR anticipates retaining such third-party sellers
upon qualification. Those sellers must satisfy registration requirements
of any State in which they will be selling. Reg A+ allows for $6
million[9] of the $20 million Tier 1 offering amount to be sold by
third-party sellers. Upon qualification, STR will only sell through the
third-party sellers
Up to the first $6 million[10] of this offering, as allowed by the Tier
1 rules, is to be conducted by the third-party sellers. In the case of
underwriters, at the time of their retainer, such will be retained on
either a 'take and pay' basis, or on a 'best efforts' basis, both as
allowed by the JOBS Act regulations. STR will pay a commission or other
remuneration to the the third-party sellers.
This Offering Circular relates only to the offer and sale of up to $6
million[11] of common/voting shares at the asking price of $100 per
share. The asking price range is from $15 to $100 per share. There is no
other class of shares. There are no selling shareholders. Although
shares are being offered at the asking price of $100 per share, market
conditions and the efforts of third-party sellers will ultimately
determine the selling price of shares to any individual investor.
7
A hypothetical project area of 1,500 homes that are in contiguous
unserved census blocks, where the 'middle mile' 'interconnect'
co-location point is also contiguous to those blocks may be illustrative
here. The 'last mile,' that is, either the wireless receiving radio
placed on the outside of the residence, or the satellite dish, plus the
customer install equipment inside the residence, together, have an
average of $3,000.00 per residence. Under this scenario, $4.5 million,
of the $6 million[12] will be utilized for these two components. In
order to serve those 1,500 homes, a technology solution of existing
middle mile cable or fiber co-location with white space technology
sending and receiving radios is assumed. For such a project area size, a
minimum of 20 'middle mile' white space technology sending radios must
be installed. These radios will receive the signal from the 'middle
mile' broadband connection, and then transmit it to the 'last mile'
receiver at the residence. Based upon an install already completed, STR
can approximate a sunk cost expenditure, per location of $4,500.00, or
$90,000.00 for the 20 'middle mile' sites.
For those 20, locations, in order to be able to provide broadband speeds
that are in compliance with general guidelines and also established
rules in some states, but typically with a capacity of no less than 100
mbps, wholesale costs will be $1,200.00 per month, per location, with a
minimum of a three-year wholesale contract, so as to be prepared for
full service as each residence comes online, or $518,400.00. The
remaining proceeds will be applied to the customer acquisition and
retention components, including significant advertising and 'loss
leader' component offerings to new customers, as well as rents on
sending radio sites and, of significant importance, user adoption rate
and customer service programs and services.
Investors, as well as regulators, are free to draw upon comparisons with
their own monthly residential broadband packages for data, streaming
T.V., phone, streaming video, cloud storage and any peripherals, like
upgrades for speeds, or for WiFi gadgets to be added to the monthly
bill.
In the event a customer fails to make payment on a due date, STR will
have the option to pursue various remedies. When considering that folks
in the unserved areas will be achieving broadband in the home for the
first time, however, the policy will be to 'keep the customer instead of
cutting the service.' In extreme cases, therefore, remedies could
include, for example, imposing a late charge and a 'disconnect and
equipment return fee.'
8
Research has indicated, however, that the costs of acquiring a new
customer, then disconnecting, and dismantling the equipment on the
outside of the residence, and then re-installing the that equipment, and
reconnecting the service, may not be worth the effort of losing a
customer. For these reasons, STR will want to do everything possible to
avoid a disconnect. Any and all collection proceeds received will be
applied first, to all costs and expenses of any nature whatsoever
incurred by STR for the maintenance, preservation, defense, protection,
sale, other disposition, collection, including without limitation court
costs and reasonable attorneys' fees, expenses, including those
associated with the defense or any related action, claim or demand, and
disbursements, second, to accrued and unpaid amounts owed, and third, to
any further dismantling, disconnect and equipment pick up costs. The
statement of cash flow set forth below with respect to the period from
October 16, 2015 to the present, based on a calendar year reporting, is
derived solely from STR's banking statements, are not audited, and have
not been reviewed by any person in the bookkeeping or accounting
sectors. The amounts, as shown are very small, and reflect only
investment proceeds from JOBS Act / Rule 506 investors, and were made
for the purposes of developing project areas in the STR project areas,
and in connection with costs associated with this offering. Further, and
importantly, STR, as indicated above, was formed specifically to qualify
for JOBS Act / Rule 506 opportunities, and therefore, only in the year,
2013.
The current project areas are distributed throughout Broome County, New
York. This area is located in the southern tier region of upstate New
York. The Southern Tier counties are: Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus,
Tioga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, and Steuben
STR previously filed FCC Rural Broadband Experiment bids for the
following communities in the southern tier of New York: Broome, Chenango
and Delaware counties. These existing project areas will form the first
installation sites from this funding opportunity.
9
Statement of Cash Flows
For the Period 10/16/2015 to 11/18/2016
Cash flow from operating activities - net income -3,004.00[13]
Cash provided by/used in operating activities -3,004.00
Net increase in cash -3,004.00
Cash on hand on November 18, 2016 0
ITEM 1.
SUMMARY INFORMATION, RISK FACTORS, RISK
MITIGATION FACTORS, DILUTION AND MATERIAL DISPARITIES
A. Summary Information:
Investing in STR involves a high degree of risk. In deciding whether to
purchase shares, the investor should carefully consider the following
risk factors and additional information about the risks associated with
the investment that may be contained throughout this offering circular.
Any of the following risks could have a material adverse effect on the
value of the shares purchased, and could cause the investor to lose all
or part of the initial investment, or could adversely affect any future
value which the investor expects to receive on the shares. Only
investors who can bear the loss of their entire investment amount should
purchase shares.
This Regulation A - Tier 1 opportunity is for what is called the
'interconnector' sector of the telecommunications infrastructure
industry. This sector provides the system whereby broadband internet
access service (BIAS) providers, as currently defined by the FCC's
rules, sell their retail services to customers. These are BIAS companies
like Netflix, Hulu, Crackle, YouTube, Apple TV, as well as the
traditional content providers, like Comcast and Time Warner Cable, as
well as companies like Google and Facebook.
10
The official statutory legal language for the interconnector sector may
be found at 47 U.S.C. SS 251.
Interconnector companies are the independent companies that provide the
structure by which internet and telecommunications signal is
transferred. Companies like American Tower Company are interconnector
companies for wireless communications. That is to say, that American
Tower itself, does not generate any telephone or internet service or
content, but rather buys plots of land, builds towers on them, brings
signal to its tower, and then leases tower space, like leasing an
apartment, to telecommunications, radio, T.V., broadband, and other
companies.
Companies like Lightower, by contrast, are fiber interconnector
companies. That is to say that Lightower will, based on its market
analysis and other issues, including customer needs, lay fiber to
certain sections, and then charge a fee to anyone who wishes to use it,
and charge a fee to make it work for the customer. Companies like
Lightower will connect to a broadband trunk line, sometimes anecdotally
known as the 'first mile,' with a typical industry plug-in, then
wholesale the broadband service from a broadband broker, then sell the
connection as a part of its service. Like with tower companies, however,
Lightower and other fiber companies, do not sell retail content, or any
other end-user services, like email, streaming video, or cloud storage.
Such companies are strictly on the industrial side.
This being said, such companies as Verizon, Comcast and Charter
Communications, have some own their own infrastructure. In this regard,
they, too, could be considered, and are by STR, considered,
interconnector companies. STR says so because, in some areas of its
projects, the closest connection where STR could achieve a broadband
connection, will be where the closest one is located.
In addition, however, companies like Verizon do not limit their business
to just selling wholesale to interconnector companies like STR. Instead,
all of those companies sell a wide variety of retail products and
services, which they generate, like the 'triple-play' for
phone/data/T.V. This distinction, of these added services, places them
into a separate category for purposes of being regulated by the FCC:
Broadband Internet Access Service (BIAS) providers.
11
On February 26, 2015, the FCC issued new rules that govern both the
interconnector sector and the BIAS providers. See, In the Matter of
Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet, GN Docket No. 14-28.
STR is more like companies like American Tower or Lightower. That is to
say that STR does not originate or sell retail content and does not sell
retail services, like the 'triple-play.' Customers wanting any of those
services, instead, are free to go onto STR's system and decide what it
is that they wish to purchase. Once customer acquisition is achieved,
the customer may wish to purchase retail services from the local BIAS.
Such a system results in a win-win for the investor, because both the
customer and the retailer both need, as a requirement, STR's system. Or,
they may choose not to do so, and instead purchase other retail
services, like streaming video content, or both, by selecting the
individual services from STR's menu of items. Among the major complaints
from consumers, as far as broadband retail services are concerned, is
that the broadband provider requires the customer to purchase some
version of the data/TV/phone service. With STR's menu, as STR is not a
BIAS provider, customers will be able to buy only the services they
believe are best for them.
As both the federal government and the States, now tracking internet
connections since its usage began to be commonplace some few decades
ago, begin to grapple with how to make sure that all areas of the
country have internet, concerted efforts are underway to define what is
an 'unserved' area, and how best to entice innovation and expansion from
new companies like STR. For example, the following statistics exist for
'unserved' census blocks in the STR investment project area:
For example, the following statistics exist for 'unserved' census blocks
in the STR project area:
FCC Rural Broadband Experiment Census Blocks
Broome County, NY
Total Eligible Census Blocks:110
Total Eligible Units: 610
12
State of NY Broadband Data
Broome County, NY
Total Eligible Census Blocks: 443 Total Eligible Units: 976
6/2014 State of New York Broadband Data Total Eligible Census Blocks:
418 Total Eligible Housing Units: 770
TOTAL of non-overlapping RBE and NY Census Blocks: 457
TOTAL of non-overlapping RBE and NY Housing Units: 1,102
These vast amounts of unserved census blocks form the foundation of new
companies like STR. That is to say that companies like STR, that
specialize only in this large, unserved market, represent the future
that will allow for the completion of broadband infrastructure in the
United States. At the same time, however, and now with the STR group in
its eighth year, its analysis and, therefore, development efforts have
led to the conclusion that the best way forward, for the country, and
for investors, is to simply limit the expansion efforts to only
'interconnector' expansion. In other words, there is enough 'middle
mile' infrastructure, and there are enough BIAS retail sellers in the
contiguous areas so as to allow for folks in rural America to very
quickly ramp up and join folks in urban and suburban areas to enjoy the
benefits of broadband once STR installs the 'last mile' system.
The project area, in addition, contains the first city wi-fi project,
called 'Hot Bing.' This project, the first such for RBC and its
subsidiaries, is a rural city sidewalk public WiFi project in the City
of Binghamton, New York. The project will generate revenue from local,
State, County and City government, which will use the system to provide
information concerning services, and also by local business in payment
for services that can be obtained by using the system, like finding a
parking spot for a hockey game, as well as from ad revenue for local
businesses, including 'The Arena' a major entertainment complex, and
from SUNY/Binghamton, which has a large student residence population in
the City.
13
B. Risk Factors:
1. Statements of future forecasts, projections and expectations are not
statements of returns on investment;
2. Market penetration may not be immediate.
There exists an issue of equal importance to infrastructure expansion
for resolution relative to the full expansion of broadband in the rural
United States, having to do with the 'user adoption' rate. STR's
research has led it to issue this caution to investors as among the risk
factors. STR's position, so as to best inform investors, is that this
factor weighs in as much as 50%, the other half being the installation
of the 'last mile' infrastructure, in STR's potential success.
Among the references that have guided us in posting this cautionary
selection is the history of rural electrification in America. For,
although New Deal legislation solved the problems of removing monopoly
control of electricity, and provided funding, not until a separate
agency to improve the user adoption rate was created, did the
possibility of folk actually using it, and therefore paying for it,
result. Among the most creative ways to insure that, by having an
electrical outlet in the home, rural residents would actually plug
something into it, was the promotion and inexpensive sale and financing
of appliances. After completing surveys, the three items chosen as the
most important to future rural consumers were the electric iron, the
washing machine and the refrigerator. Thus, many more-senior investors
may come to remember a time when, before Sears, their parents went to
the local electric company to pay their bill, and also to buy
appliances.
With history as a guide, therefore, STR will seek to minimize this risk,
while, at the same time, cautioning investors as to its existence. For
STR's projects, where folk do not have any broadband on their
smartphones when they arrive home, and no internet at all in the home,
there will be incentives to use the system once up and running. One such
non-negotiable, and by comparison to the rural electrification gadgets,
is that a tablet will be provided to each residence where service is
established. Many customers will already have a tablet, like an iPad,
but for STR, providing one as part of its system guarantees, for STR and
for the customer, the router connection, the smartphone VoIP app., as
well as STR's company app., where all billing and feature changes can be
made.
14
The second prong of STR's user adoption rate mitigation program will be
constant and competitive advertising across all media lines, targeted to
the project area. STR has worked hard to arrive at a concept that brands
its service, while at the same time, conveys its message, and believes
that the 'My First Car Club' conveys that message. Since there was never
even a word like 'Google' STR figures that it are not that far off the
mark. Importantly, however, being a member of a club is fun, 'members'
can communicate on STR's social media pages, and STR can give its
retail/customer support outlets a matching name: 'The Shop.'
The advertising campaign will be a sustained effort, tailored in each
area to the local benefits of the community, like the annual 'Ellenville
Blueberry Festival,' for example. Importantly is the fact that, although
suburban areas that are near the rural areas seem to have a captive
market for the BIAS companies, in fact, advertising, especially on T.V.
is non-stop. Such advertising, which runs over into the rural areas,
however, can be of a huge benefit to us as complimentary advertising.
For, by the BIAS companies offering the types of retail services that
customers want, new customers will have an even greater incentive to
become STR's customers, and then become retail customers of those
companies.
STR cautions, that such market penetration may take as long as 12-24
months before the critical mass of 'I want to join the 'My First Car
Club' as a customer arrives.;
3. Zoning issues may delay the start of parts of the project;
By and large, this cautionary section concerns parts of a project area
where a zoning change or variance may be required. While such should be
extremely rare, and any delays short-lived, STR thought to mention same
here.
In fact, in the vast majority of project areas where STR would begin
operations for many years to come, existing assets, like cell. towers
which have already been through the zoning process, or 'middle mile'
cable hook ups, where the cable company long ago resolved the zoning
issue, will solve 'last mile' zoning issues.
15
STR raises this issue here, therefore, in the unlikely event that there
may be zoning ordinances, or community ordinances that do not cover
'wireless receiving residential equipment,' and for which STR would
retain local zoning counsel to either amend the ordinance or obtain a
variance.
4. Attracting broadband internet access service (BIAS) providers to a
carrier-neutral environment could result in initial limited user
expansion;
5. Local government needs could accelerate adoption, at a short term
financial loss;
Of a lesser priority than the absence of infrastructure and the issue of
the user adoption rate, is a caution here about local government demands
for service.
This caution is more one of a political one where being a 'good
neighbor' can far outweigh any other local benefit. Broadband
infrastructure and service is no different to any local government than
is any other type of service, gas, water, electricity and the like. Like
the companies that service those sectors, STR's sector, and in fact,
STR, will become involved in providing additional infrastructure, either
one of the 'middle' mile' radios, or, if in an area where one exists,
with the 'last mile' radios in the project area.
For example, most likely, the first wireless sending radio will be
mounted to a water tower/tank that is owned by the county. In exchange
for being allowed to mount the radio onto the tower frame, most likely,
STR will pay a base rent, but also be asked to provide either
additional, supplemental, or replacement internet service to that
facility, at STR's expense, initially.
The caution becomes important because, in all likelihood, being
responsive to local government would lead us to want to establish that
service at that water facility, and also, to provide for the monthly
billing expense for the broadband signal, and provide for gadgets and
technical support to bring the plant current. All at a short-term
financial loss.
This being said, a given is that, upon the next budget cycle, public
hearings, discussion, and vote on the annual budget, most if not all
local governments are envisioned as factoring in the recurring costs
into the budget to be paid for by the taxpayers. The sunk costs for the
equipment would be expensed by STR's accountants as best as possible.
16
6. The Company has no operating history;
7. Sales of shares will be restricted in accordance with Regulation A,
as amended;
STR makes this offering consistent with Reg. A+ regulations governing
Tier 1 only for third-party sellers:
a) Tier 1: offering limit of $20 million, including up to $6 million[14]
to be sold only by third-party sellers;
b) Limit re-sales by selling securityholders under amended Rule 144.
8. Technology choice: the 'last mile' technology may include white space
technology, fiber or cable co-location at the 'middle mile.' White space
technology was authorized by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission
(FCC), in 2012, and thus, there is limited data on a national rollout of
this technology at the present time. This project would be among the
first for a consumer-ready rollout of the technology infrastructure.
STR states here, however, that white space technology is just one of the
'last mile' technologies that are available to STR. The others are as
mentioned above, wireless, also known as 'point-to-point' or 'microwave'
or 'wireless Internet Service,' or fiber, or satellite. Further, some
combination of white space and microwave technology may also be suitable
and necessary for this project, given the large geographic expanse.
As already illustrated above, no 'single-technology' solution exists for
rural America, so that, in fact the 'middle mile' will always be either
wireless or fiber, or in the case of satellite, the satellite itself,
for example.
The year 2013, did, however, provide two significant boosts for rural
broadband. First, to JOBS Act presents a major new way to achieve
funding that is scaled to project areas
17
and sizes. Second, the FCC authorized the commercial use of white space
technology, and emphasized its benefits for rural America. See, PUBLIC
NOTICE Federal Communications Commission, DA 13-324, Released: March 1,
2013 Office of Engineering and Technology Authorizes TV White Space
Database Administrators to Provide Service to Unlicensed Devices
Operating on Unused TV Spectrum Nationwide, ET Docket No. 04-186.
These twin incentives drive STR's projects, but at the same time,
investors must be cautioned that, whereas white space technology is not
new, its application to rural areas is new. Investors may also know that
STR's government procurement efforts are on an equal par of activity as
is its equity effort.
As a thumbnail sketch, investors and regulators may know that 'white
space' refers to the location to capture radio signal that is exactly
100 feet above ground level at any given ground level point. It is at
this point, and only at this point, that, for decades, unlicensed
television channels have existed, these primarily in very small market
areas. In all other T.V. areas, and in fact, in all other
telecommunications areas, signal location in the air is regulated and
licensed.
As can be expected, if a T.V. station is not making money, it would have
no need to use one of the unlicensed channels in its area, and that
channel would be open for anyone to use. In any given area, there may be
many, many unused channels. In the United States, there are millions,
and these are all identified by the FCC.
One technology issue which the 'white space' space refers to is the fact
that, like smaller and local radio stations, the signal strength
capacity on any single channel is limited. This issue is resolved,
however, since there are many, many channels free-floating with each
other in a given area. This is where the FCC's white space technology
administrator authorization of 2013 comes in. Without white space
administration, there could be no white space technology, because too
many folk would be on one channel at one time, causing system failure.
As the above FCC publication title indicates, however, in 2013, the FCC
authorized the commercial use of white space and authorized
administrators to manage it. It was this memo that opened the floodgates
to white space technology for rural America.
18
In other words, companies like Redline Communications, for many years,
installed, and continue to install white space technology, as private
systems, mostly in very remote areas and mostly in mining towns, or for
municipalities. Those systems would grab the white space signal, and the
administrators would make sure that, if a channel began to fill up, the
administration software would switch the signal to another channel that
was not being used, or not being used to capacity. Thus, neither 'white
space' nor 'white space technology' are new. The FCC has authorized the
following white space administrator companies for the United States:
Spectrum Bridge, Inc., RadioSoft, Inc., Google, Inc., LStel, Key Bridge
Global LLC, and iconectiv.Spectrum Bridge, Inc., is the company that our
vendor, Redline Communications, Inc. uses. In other words, with the
purchase of the equipment, comes the Spectrum Bridge service contract.
The promise that the FCC believes holds for white space in rural America
concerns its ability to 'see' through areas where 'line-of-sight'
microwave does not. For example, if a sending microwave radio is set on
a cell. tower and has a certain range, say five miles, it can only send
the signal to a receiver that is within the line of sight of the cell.
tower. For most of rural America, the option of putting up millions more
cell. towers, and then expecting the sending radios to reach into every
terrain area, is not an option. The chances of the cable companies
running cable, at an estimated $25,000.00 per mile, into rural areas
with low residential density, is, also, not an option. Those two
technologies, again, however, do provide extremely cost-effective
'middle mile' connections and thus, a cost savings that investors should
know about.
As STR has been developing projects with white space technology,
therefore, since 2013, its team has developed some practical expertise,
especially when considering that it has one completed 'middle mile'
white space technology installation. STR can state, therefore, and this
in conjunction with Redline, the key to a successful 'last mile'
connection for white space has to do with the height of the radios. In
fact, a good rule of thumb, as a practical matter, that has developed is
to have a good inverse relationship between the 'middle mile' sending
radio, or the 'base station,' and the residential housing unit. In this
manner, the resident will need the shortest mast upon which to mount the
receiving radio, and, therefore, the least aesthetic intrusion. The
satellite industry grappled with this aesthetic issue for years, until
it was finally able to make the dishes smaller. STR seeks, therefore, to
go to sites, like barns, or large industrial plants in rural areas, like
cement plants, but also water towers and large water tanks, in
19
addition, of course, to cell. towers, where it can reach as close to 100
feet, ten stories, at that location. At that height, that radio can
clear any major obstruction, and where smaller obstructions, like
treetops, or mountain peaks prevail, its signal, unlike line-of-sight,
will wrap over those obstructions to reach the residential unit.
This being said, investors should know that there will be circumstances
where the residential unit must also go up a substantial height, in
order to breach any complete obstruction from the 'middle mile' radio.
STR feels, however, that because it will rely on significant and
existing 'middle mile' infrastructure, enormous savings will result,
savings which can be passed onto the consumer, who, once signal is
established, and gadgets being used, will welcome the opportunity to use
its service. In short, STR's message to investors is that it's hard, but
it can be done and, like any of the larger telecommunication companies,
STR believes that it, too, can thrive;
9. There is an absence of profitable operations in recent periods;
10. There is no current, defined method for determining market price for
the service, as the service has, as of yet, not had a commercial
rollout;
11. The project has not yet been completed and, accordingly; has no
operating history. The company, therefore, has no operating history of
earnings and its operations will be subject to all of the risks inherent
in the establishment of a new business enterprise. Accordingly, the
success of the business is completely dependent upon financial,
business, competitive, regulatory and other general factors affecting
the rural broadband interconnector sector in general as well as
prevailing economic conditions;[15]
STR address here further the current and projected competitive
conditions. Although discussed in parts above, both of the biggest
challenges come from within, and not from without the interconnector
sector. The biggest competitive hurdle, in other words, is not competing
with any other company, but competing for existence, as concerns the
user adoption rate discussed above. Without customers actually signing
up, STR cannot be successful. For these reasons, the advertising, the
giveaway of the tablet, the creation of the app. to manage all aspects
of the account with the customer, a single payment
20
platform, Paypal, with us covering the Paypal fee, the opening of 'The
Shop' retail/customer service outlets, like 'the Apple Store, the
customer service, live phone/chat function and tech. support, all, from
the outset, must be in place, up and running, as much as possible,
before the first customer signs up.
The second competitive issue, also discussed above, is the technology
equipment selection, and then the install. STR's efforts have taught
that, by being able to say to a community that STR is 'open for
business' meaning having the 'middle mile' base station installed and
ready for customers, is likely the best way to convince customers to
sign up with us. They can drive to the barn or silo or wherever, and
actually see the radio in place.
STR says again to investors and regulators that all this is hard, but it
can be done because STR's focus is solely on rural America.
STR addresses here, further current and projected economic conditions of
the interconnector industry. In just the STR project area of Broome
County, there are approximately 1,000 official census block housing
units with no broadband. Thus, the economic conditions for the company
that conquers the cost/density barrier, which STR believes it has,
stands to capture that market, upon overcoming the user adoption rate
issue.
All this being said, STR reiterates as discussed above, the risk of
total loss from any investment.
12. Although, under Regulation A securities are unrestricted, there is,
for this offering, no opportunity to achieve control securities;[16]
C. Risk Mitigation Factors:
l. 3-day right of withdrawal - the 'cooling off' period
STR provides here some background on this contractual option.
21
When beginning its JOBS Act research under Section 506,[17] STR reviewed
the registration requirements, in survey form, of a number of States.
Its survey showed that, although cancellation of any contract made is
frowned upon, in fact, by law, or by voluntary action, some may be
cancelled. This cancellation right is also known, anecdotally as a
'cooling off' period.
STR's surveys also showed that, with respect to securities contracts,
there is either no cooling off period or there is a range of from one to
as much as five days. STR found three days to be the average.
In addition, for some contracts, the State of New York has a right of
cancellation for some contracts, and such is a three-day right. The
cancellation of securities contracts, however, for the State of New
York, is not among the ones to which the three-day right applies. See,
New York Attorney General: www.oag.state.ny.us.
Thus,STR's sales contract exceeds the requirements of New York law.
The federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act
("E-SIGN") and similar state laws, particularly the Uniform
Electronic Transactions Act ("UETA"), authorize the creation of
legally binding and enforceable agreements utilizing electronic records
and signatures. E-SIGN and UETA require businesses that want to use
electronic records or signatures in consumer transactions to obtain the
consumer's consent to receive information electronically. See, also 15
U.S.C. 96.
Upon an election within the 3-day 'cooling off' period, investor funds
will be returned to the investor, by the escrow agent, minus any fees
and costs earned and incurred that are authorized by the escrow
agreement as provided by State of Georgia law.
Further, the investor is advised that no shares will be issued to the
investor by the Issuer's representative until such time as the Issuer
receives confirmation from the escrow agent, after the 3-day period,
that the investor has not made the election to withdraw.
22
Finally, the investor may choose to waive the 3-day withdrawal period,
by signing the form shown below that will become a part of the shares
purchase agreement:
WAIVER OF 3-DAY RIGHT OF WITHDRAWAL
I, (investor) hereby advise the escrow agent and the Issuer of, Southern
Tier
Region Rural Broadband Company, Inc., that I waive the 3-day right of
withdrawal as
stated on the shares purchase agreement.
In other words, I wish for the purchase to be effectuated on the date of
the shares
purchase agreement, which is also the date on which payment for the
shares is made.
To make clear, therefor, I wish to have my shares issued to me on the
date that the
escrow agent confirms to the Issuer that my funds have cleared.
I HEREBY WAIVE THE 3-DAY RIGHT OF WITHDRAWAL
________________________ Investor
________________________ Date
2. Meetings with the Issuer's representative on matters outside the
offering circular and offering statement:
Investors should rely solely on the information contained in Form 1-A,
this offering circular and offering statement as concerns the investment
opportunity.
23
3. stock class: not restricted;[18]
4. distribution: shares to land in the hands of the investor as of this
offering, consistent with third-party seller classification.
D. Dilution:
The dilution formula that is utilized is taken from the administrative
code of the State of Florida. After a survey of various dilution
calculations from industry, as well as research among different State
Blue Sky laws, STR found that Florida's formula, as specifically
codified, offers the best transparency by which to calculate dilution.
Florida Rules and Regulations of the Financial Services Commission and
Office of Financial Regulation -
"69W-200.001 Definitions.
(13) "Dilution" for purposes of paragraph 69W-700.015(2)(b), F.A.C.,
shall be determined by subtracting the maximum sales commissions and
expenses set forth in the prospectus from the gross proceeds of the
offering and adding the net worth prior to the offering. Divide this sum
by the total number of shares to be outstanding at the conclusion of the
offering to determine book value. Subtract the book value from the
proposed offering price and divide the result by the proposed offering
price to arrive at the percentage of dilution. For the purpose of
calculating "dilution" or "book value", intangible assets such
as patents, copyrights, franchises, trademarks, operating rights and
goodwill are deducted from total assets.
24
Dilution Formula:
NP = Gross Proceeds minus Maximum Sales Commissions and Expenses
NW = Net Worth prior to the offering
TS = Total Number of shares to be outstanding after a successful offering
BV = Book Value
OP = Offering Price
Example:
NP + NW
________ = BV
TS
OP - BV
_________ = Dilution
OP"
E. Material disparities:
There is no material disparity between the public offering price and the
effective cash cost to officers, directors, promoters and affiliated
persons as of the time of this offering circular, and there has been
none in the past three years.
Further, the Issuer's representative, and its officers and directors,
which includes the Issuer's representative, do not anticipate any such
material disparity, or discount.
With respect to third-party sellers and affiliated persons, the Issuer
has not discussed this issue, and unless it is raised by such persons,
does not plan to so discuss. In this manner, the Issuer may maintain
clarity of the 'one class/ one price' formula.
25
III.
ITEM 2.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION - ALL SHARES TO LAND IN THE HANDS OF THE INVESTOR UNTIL
THE RETAINER OF CERTAIN THIRD-PARTY SELLERS
A. Underwriters:
For this initial filing, as permitted by JOBS Act regulations, the
minimum of $3 million and the maximum of $6 million[19] of the $20
million to be offered, sales will be completed only by third-party
sellers.
With respect to the distribution of up to the $6 million[20] maximum,
depending on the status of the third-party seller, shares may land in
the hands of the investor from the third party, or from STR. To clarify
and repeat, however, STR will not become involved in selling of up to
the first $6 million.[21]
There are no underwriters on this offering as of the potential date of
first public sale. Upon qualification, however, STR intends an
aggressive push to retain such, and also other third-party sellers. With
respect to underwriters, the Issuer will seek to retain same as 'take
and pay,' in which case distribution will land in the hands of the
investor from the underwriter. For any 'best efforts' underwriters, and
for all other third-party sellers, all shares are to land in the hands
of the investor from STR.
B. Discounts and commissions:
There are no agreements for discounts and commissions as of the
potential date of the first public sale, which could only take place
upon qualification, because there have been no third-party sellers yet
retained.
Upon such retainer, however, STR intends to allow for such discounts and
to pay to such persons such amounts as may be reasonable and allowed by
the new rules for
26
Regulation A. In that event, and at that time, STR will amend this Offering
Circular, as required by the Regulation A rules, as amended, in a timely manner.
C. Plan of distribution:
As of the date of the filing of this first Regulation A offering
circular for this project, no third-party sellers have been retained. As
such, depending on the status of such third-party sellers distribution,
upon qualification, except for 'take and pay' underwriters, shares will
land in the hands of the investor upon a sale by certain third-party
sellers, from STR. In the case of 'take and pay' underwriters, shares
will land in the hands of the investor from the underwriter.
As of the potential first offering sale date, and only upon successful
upload to the SEC for registration, and if those two are not the same,
upon the completion of the latter, there will be no secondary offering
agreements, contracts, or any other relations with any persons or
companies for other than sales of up to the first $6 million[22] by such
third-party sellers.
D. No shares offered or sold on account of securities holders:
Consistent with Item 2. C, above, all shares will be sold upon original
issuance only from STR and to land in the hands of the investor, or, in
the case of underwriters who 'take and pay' by said underwriters.
E. Restrictions on amounts of funds raised, threshold requirements for
achieving funds limit and requirements of return of funds:
1. As indicated above, consistent with Reg A+ - Tier 1, STR plans to
sell a minimum of $3 million and a maximum of $6 million in STR shares
through third-party sellers.
27
IV.
ITEM 3.
USE OF PROCEEDS TO ISSUER
A. Intended use of proceeds:
As with any technology business, changing conditions are a fact of life.
For example, at the time when the original STR group first started,
March, 2009, the iPad had not yet been introduced. Since then, however,
tablets have become commonplace, and, as indicated above, are a part of
STR's standard 'kit' package to the new customer. Thus, STR has gone
through a succession of re-calculations as to the 'middle mile' contact
point and also, as to the 'last mile' with the authorization of
commercial white space technology.
For the 'kits,' that is, the inside goodies and gadgets, with the advent
of such companies as Netflix, the development of streaming video
hardware has had a great advance. That advance has been so great that
the hardware is not only affordable, but in extremely high demand by
consumers. This feature did not even exist as recently as two years ago,
and is now a standard part of STR's kit.
The smartphone has for all intents and purposes, replaced the cell.
phone, and with it, for the unserved areas, a lack of access. With
innovation by the company, Skype, however, just in 2015, there is now
'Skype for Mobile,' which is an app. that allows a smartphone user to
achieve use of it in an area where there is broadband, but not cell.
service, like in most of the unserved rural areas. Next to streaming
video, this app., and there will be other companies creating it too, is
a stunning leap of progress for the rural areas. The app. service, just
like the streaming services, does carry an additional cost.
Further, the improved commercial availability of cloud computing allows
for greater storage and sharing of documents by consumers. As a high
demand feature, STR has added it to its service.
Thus, and in conclusion, for seven years now, STR and its parent and
sister companies, have refused to be stuck in the old 'broadband is
coming to rural America'
28
mode, where old model companies are content to offer just a basic
connection. STR's team and shareholders believe that everyone in rural
America should have the same service that anyone does who lives in urban
or suburban centers, and if the service companies can bear the costs and
expenses of making their service better to customers at a good market
price, so can STR.
STR provides more information here, regarding its business operations
and the investment opportunity. Taking into consideration that any
statements made here and throughout this offering circular are
forward-looking statements, with the appropriate cautionary language as
concerns same throughout, STR may say that, in simplest form, its
business would be no different than either the local cable or wireless
Internet service provider (WISP), or satellite T.V. company. All such
companies work according to the same basic model, in that they are
either interconnector companies, meaning that they provide no original
content, programming or services, or they are broadband internet access
service providers (BIAS). STR is the former, as described above.
Thus, upon funding, STR would, as it has done with its first install in
its sister company, bring under contract sites where it would install
the 'middle mile' radios. STR would install the radios, obtain a
wholesale contract for internet service at that location, and begin the
extensive marketing/customer acquisition effort described above.
STR would, upon acquiring a customer, as would any cable or wireless
installer, make an appointment to install the 'last mile' equipment on
the outside at the home of the new customer.
STR would, then, make a second appointment to connect the router to the
plug-in that is made a part of the outside install, like a standard
cable screw-on that any investor or regulator has in his or her home.
STR would activate the router by configuring it to the tablet, just like
any wireless company would activate a router with the customer's
computer in the residence.
For the streaming video, STR would set it for 'wireless' and it would
set up the set-top box on top of the T.V. just like any other cable or
streaming video set-top box, and would activate the two choices that the
new customer had already made, for streaming video programming. Or, if
near the TV would use one of the router ports to connect a cable to the
streaming kit, to activate it that way.
29
For the Skype app. STR would configure the new customer's smartphone
to an individual Skype account that would be a part of STR's wholesale
commercial account with Skype.
For cloud computing, where the vendor provides hardware for in-home use,
the installation team would install the hardware, and then configure it
to the app., and then to the customer's account on the app.
For us, for branding, the big moment would be when the customer can
shout 'WOW' to all of this working.
For folks living in served areas, especially those who have had
broadband for decades, much of this will likely seem mundane. Investors,
and regulators, however, simply must place themselves in the position of
the rural resident who has never had broadband at their home. For them,
nowadays, their technology life begins once they get close enough to the
nearest cell. tower with service so that their smartphone works.
For rural America, STR's shareholders and its team say that this is no
way to live.
Thus, the 'investment opportunity' is getting in at an early stage,
where there is a long history of the known factors that need to be done
and conquered, but where no company, save for STR, has yet to have a
focus on just the national issue as to only rural unserved areas.
Investors can check with listed telecommunications companies to see that
the failure rate is very low, and their success has been, in part, by
keeping faithful to a strictly market-driven business model that was
never intended, or written, to accommodate a serious concentration on
the multi-technology installs that are the only manner in which to
achieve a technology solution in the unserved areas. STR and its sister
companies, are the only such companies, and thus investors may weigh the
risks and potential rewards in making a decision as to whether to invest
with us.
STR provides here a primary list of vendors for the projects. No persons
have received any commissions in connection with any acquisition, there
have been no expenses in connection with any acquisition and there has
been no money borrowed to finance any acquisition.
Further, the costs shown for each category in the 'proceeds' table
include the global amounts for all of the components for that particular
phase of the install, and reflect amounts that may be achieved as a
result of bulk purchasing, and thus, better pricing.
30
The primary vendors, in order of priority, would be:
1. 'middle mile' lessors;
2. 'middle mile' equipment sellers and data administrators, primarily
Redline Communications, Inc. and Spectrum Bridge, Inc.;
3. 'middle mile' broadband Internet service providers, depending on the
location of the project area, like Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Verizon
and others;
4. 'middle mile' and 'last mile' mast vendors like Rohn. See,
www.rohnet.com;
5. 'last mile' electrical supply sellers for lightning protection copper
cable. See, www.lightningrodparts.com ;
6. in-home wireless routers from the most competitive priced seller at
the time, to include, for example, Netgear and Linksys, but also
competitively priced routers on www.alibaba.com;
7. streaming video kits from competitive priced ones like Apple, Roku,
and also comparable and competitively priced ones on www.alibaba.com;
8. Skype's mobile app. service;
9. various corporate accounts for various streaming services, like
Netflix, Hulu and others;
10. various competitively priced tablet vendors, but likely from
www.alibaba.com;
11. various retail pop up storefront lessors for 'The Shop'
retail/service centers, typically in a town center near local government
office, near a broadband provider's service center, or possibly in a
co-lease arrangement with a local electrical appliance company on a main
street of a small town;
31
12. cloud computing storage services by companies like IDrive, and;
13. infrastructure construction for the larger-scale projects by
companies like Black and Veatch or Squan Solutions.
C. Other funds to be used:
As indicated in the pro forma shown above, the STR Tier 1 offering is
intended to be extended to the remaining $14 million, by later
qualification, over a five-year period
D. No proceeds to be used to discharge indebtedness:
The project carries no debt, and therefore, no proceeds would be used to
discharge any indebtedness.
E. No proceeds to be used to acquire non-project assets:
With the exception of assets acquired in the ordinary course of business
for the project, there will be no other use of the proceeds.
F. Reservation of right to change use of proceeds:
STR reserves the right to change the use of proceeds provided that such
reservation is due to certain contingencies which are adequately
disclosed.
For example, the project may require the purchase of small and
insignificant tracts of real estate for the purposes of positioning
hardware, or structures upon which to mount such hardware. Or, for
co-location purposes, the project may require the long-term leasing of
space on certain rooftops, again for the purposes of providing relay
connector hardware to the project area.
In all instances, however, the project plan is to avoid either the
purchase of any real estate or the necessity of establishing such
rooftop links. In other words, one of the primary project goals is to
have access to broadband internet service connections that are a part of
the location of the sending radios, or in very close proximity to such.
In this manner, significant costs of such real estate and other
co-location items may be avoided, and thus, budget kept more efficient.
32
STR provides here, a reconciliation of the need for certain real
estate and the potential conflicting statements ownership of it. STR
begins with saying, as it has above, that the interconnector sector is
one that is well-organized among all facets. Thus, a good example would
be where, say, American Tower would choose to place a tower in an area.
And, to complete the thought, let us assume that, in that area, there
are landowners who know that a part of their land may be lucrative for a
cell. tower location. In those circumstances, the landowner could take
two kinds of action. He/she could contact American Tower, and negotiate
a deal, either for the purchase or lease of the land on which to place
the tower. In the alternative, the owner could be more savvy and contact
a tower development company, like say Black Dot Wireless.
www.blackdotwireless.com. For a fee, Black Dot will completely develop
the tower site, including installation, leases and service, so that, in
effect, any prospective tenant on the tower would be a lessee.
In fact, in any project areas, where there is a tower anywhere within a
five-mile range in a prospective service area, STR will seek space at
the 100' level.
Other non-tower sites that will play key roles for the 'middle mile'
interconnect are ones that have a tall structure, and also an existing
internet connection, or one that is relatively close by, say within 200'
of such a connection. Such structures are all manner of shapes and
configurations, and so far, the best range has been large and tall
municipal water towers, private landowners where there is a tall
structure, like a silo, private landowners where there is a building
next to a highway where there is an internet connection, like in the
sister company's Southern Tier project area, as well as industrial
sites, typically on the outskirts of towns, like cement plants, as well
as outlying municipal plants, like waste management facilities. For all
of these sites, there is no possibility, or need, of owning the land or
the facility. Instead, STR will simply treat them like a company like
Black Dot would treat any tower site landowner: STR will enter into a
lease that looks a lot like, in fact, nearly identical to what the tower
companies use.
Thus, for 99.99% of the business, STR will not need to, or want to, take
an ownership stake, just like no typical interconnector company wants to
do. STR will let the experts for those sites do the work, and STR will
lease.
To reconcile any statements, or confusion as to an ownership stake,
however, STR clarifies here to state that, for that remaining.01%, what
STR envisions is a situation where, for example, a municipality may own
a parcel of land, and, for its own purposes, may require that STR
purchase a site, instead of leasing it. Further, there will always be
33
situations where, in an an area where STR needs a 'middle mile' site,
there may be no other acceptable site available other than one where the
landowner insists, for his own reasons, typically liability reasons,
that STR purchase the site. Even in those exceptionally rare instances,
however, and although STR would need to purchase the site, STR would not
administer it, rather, signing it over to a company like Black Dot, to
handle it, turnkey for us. In that manner, and in addition, there exists
the likelihood that Black Dot could achieve more customers for the site,
thus turning it into a revenue-maker for us.
In conclusion, therefore, the 'middle mile' site development/ownership
sector is extremely well developed in the United States. See,
www.wirelessestimator.com. STR believes that investors would want it to
take advantage of this well-developed sector, so as to take advantage of
its benefits, and also to keep the focus on the task at hand: 'last
mile' installs and consumer benefits.
G. Compliance with 17 CFR 230.251[23], as amended:
The Issuing company/applicant has no plans and no business plan, or
intentions to engage in a merger or acquisition with an unidentified
company, companies, entity or person.
V.
ITEM 4.
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
A. Business done and intended to be done:
The project has consisted of the origination, organization, design and
development of a large-scale rural interconnector infrastructure that
will bring internet service to unserved areas of rural New York.
Such business has been conducted over a period in excess of five years.
34
The business to be done consists of utilizing the proceeds to implement,
fulfill, and make operational, such infrastructure in the defined
project areas in the Southern Tier of New York.
B. The principal products produced and services rendered and the
principal market for and method of distribution of such products and
services:
The principal 'product' produced consists of a consumer-ready 'kit' that
brings full internet service, and consumer features to the unserved
areas of rural America. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), for
example, has identified 84,000 unserved census blocks in rural
America.[24]
The 'kit' concept was originated by the parent company[25] in order to
create a defined, consumer-ready project plan that can be scaled from a
small, to a massive project size, depending on funding.
The principal 'service' that would be provided consists of the permanent
operation of the 'kit' over the entire rural American landscape.[26]
C. The status of a product or service, if the issuer has made public
information about a new product or service which would require the
investment of a material amount of the assets of the issuer or is
otherwise material:
STR has made 'public' the 'product' by making JOBS Act, Rule 506
notifications on the internet. The principal 'service' is identified on
the main project website, at www.urbroadband.com. Thus, there are no
investment proceeds which would require such new information, saving,
therefore, the proceeds for use in project implementation.
35
D. The estimated amount spent during each of the last two fiscal years
on company-sponsored research and development activities determined in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles:
STR has spent all of its time during the past seven fiscal years on
research and development activities. STR clarifies, here, its costs
associated with prior research and development activities. STR's
interconnector 'service' does not require any laboratory research. Nor
is it different in any material degree from any other interconnector
service, including cable/fiber or microwave wireless.
STR did not develop the products, like the Redline radios that it uses,
or the Skype app., for example. STR has, however, invested seven years
of its time in developing the project areas. Its research and
development has been on developing an understanding of what are the
major impediments to rural broadband expansion in rural America. As
indicated throughout this offering circular, these include the absence
of any companies, like STR, which have a sole national focus on rural
America, a considerable and unwarranted emphasis on single-technology by
the large telecommunications companies, and a major issue of user
adoption rate. By constantly developing the projects to keep current
with the technology and consumer demands, and by solely focusing on
rural America, STR's shareholders and its support team believe that it's
best resources of dedication and time, have yielded the best possible
current-technology solution.
STR addresses here, issues of selling expenses, including but not
limited to, legal, engineering, and accounting charges. STR takes out
'engineering' from the equation. In some instances, professional
engineers may be consulted as to parts of projects involving
municipalities, but by and large, all of the products that STR uses will
already have been 'engineered.' In other words, many of the vendors,
Redline for example, have their own internal engineers, in fact, some
Ph.D. engineers, who make strict requirements as to installation,
connections and other quality control features. STR could not interfere
with those functions by hiring a separate engineer, without losing its
support and warranty components with Redline.
36
As indicated above, however, the key 'selling' expenses have to do
with the major issue of 'customer acquisition,' also known as the 'user
adoption rate.' Investors are, again, cautioned here that this is a
major hurdle that must be overcome with the advertising campaigns,
community involvement, the opening of 'The Shop' stores, like the 'Apple
Store,' and significant service promotion on a long term basis.
Attorney's and accounting fees would be spent, in the first instance of
accounting, to maintain rigid protocols for internal controls,
consistent with industry standards. In fact, several layers of internal
accounting controls will be implemented. Secondly, attorneys will handle
ongoing reporting requirements for all aspects of compliance.
E. The estimated dollar amount spent during each of such years on
material customer-sponsored research activities relating to the
development of new products, services or techniques or the improvement
of existing products, services or techniques:
For largely proprietary reasons, STR has avoided such spending, and will
continue to avoid such, for those same reasons. Further, both the FCC
and the United States Department of Agriculture, among other Federal and
State agencies, have extensive public information available on this
issue.
STR expands here on information that explicitly describes the cost of
research activities and the impact on business operations if anticipated
costs change. As STR has indicated, it does not, and need not, perform
laboratory research. STR's research consists of finding the best
current-technology solution from what are a known set of technologies,
to include cable/fiber, wireless,white space, and satellite technology.
The costs of 'research' as to the best mix of those technologies in any
one given project area are a part of STR's project development.
For example, in one of STR's sister company installations in the
Southern Tier region of New York, the installation team installed a
'middle mile' Redline radio on a 40-foot mast that the installation team
built from 3-inch, inner diameter black pipe. STR selected the project
area based upon information as to 'no broadband' that was provided by
local elected officials. STR was and is able to scale the project along
a known area of a state road that has, as two end points, a distance of
approximately 5 miles. On either side of the road, there exists internet
service, so that 'middle mile' radios may be placed at
37
various locations, and there is good residential housing density to
justify the installation of the 'middle mile' radios. What was the
unknown is the number of such radios that are needed, and here again,
Redline largely determines that, with input from a GIS/ mapping vendor
company, CN Ventures. See, www.connectednation.org.
STR's shareholders and support team believe that both investors and
regulators may be reminded that the founding group began its eighth year
on March 1, 2016. STR anticipates no major changes to its cost structure
as a result.
F. The number of persons employed by the issuer:
STR expands on information regarding the projected number of employees
for future operations, as well as any detail that addresses how this
information will change as business operations grow, and disclosures
that explicitly addresses the employee expense and the impact on
business operations if anticipated expenses change.
STR recites here, as in other sections of this offering circular, that,
aside from having as a sole focus, the unserved areas of the United
States, its business is, by and large, like any other interconnector
business, be it a fiber company, like Lightower, or a wireless company,
like American Tower, or like a strictly interconnector component
company, like Time Warner Cable. The list, to match the components, is,
thus, simplistic and reasonable:
1. 'middle mile' installation: all such companies have installers, and
STR has at least one installation team already, and they installed the
mast on the Southern Tier project. These are typically folks who have a
lot of experience in construction and carpentry;
2. 'last mile' installation: where, for example, the cable guy brings
the cable to the outside of the residence. For us, there is every chance
that STR will be hiring local independent contractors who hire
themselves out to the cable, wireless and satellite companies to perform
installations;
3. 'Inside' installers: like any of those companies, STR will have the
same type folks. In fact, and again, it will likely hire local
independent contractors who do cable or wireless or satellite inside
installations;
38
4. 'The Shop:' this should be like the 'Apple Store,' a nice place to
go to open an account, buy apparel, get tech. support and the like.
There will be a retail expert, as well as a technology expert at these
stores;
5. back office staff: like those companies, there will be staff to help
with billing, service calls, components replacements and repairs and the
like;
6. large-scale or unique construction and installations: for this
project area, STR anticipates that a typical team can comfortably handle
a customer account list of 500 customers. After that, a new 'The Shop'
would open, and the installers would be shifted to the new area, and
back office staff would grow to accommodate the next 500 customers.
STR feels it important to emphasize to investors that, for the large
landmass/large-scale installations it will hire professionals like Black
& Veatch, www.bv.com, or Squan Solutions, www.squan.com. In addition,
STR will hire supply chain professionals to manage components purchases
and deliveries and replacements. Further, STR will retain the services
of a professional advertising company. STR simply cannot leave the issue
of the user adoption rate to non-professionals. Instead, the 'My First
Car Club' brand will be developed to apply across all lines. The 'The
Shop' retail/service support facilities will have a defined interior
look, down to the last detail. STR may also attempt to develop podcasts
and possibly a reality T.V. show. STR will make every attempt to have
its mission and service become a part of the permanent infrastructure
exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History - Kenneth
E. Behring Center.
STR will retain a Chief Operating Officer (COO), who must be a person
with a broadband background, who has a degree in business management,
and preferably a master's degree in same, and experience with a
telecommunications or broadband company.
In other words, upon funding, STR will make its first human resources
expansion with the retainer of a professional team to manage all aspects
of a large-scale install.
39
G. The material effects of compliance with environmental regulations:
As the interconnector sector, including STR's projects, do not discharge
any waste of any type, there are no compliance requirements with
Federal, State and local provisions which have been enacted or adopted
regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, that may
have an impact upon the capital expenditures, earnings and competitive
position of the issuer and its subsidiaries;
H. Distinctive or special characteristics of the Issuer's operation or
industry which may have a material impact upon the issuer's future
financial performance:
1. there is no dependence on one or a few major customers or suppliers
(including suppliers of raw materials or financing) which may have a
material impact on the issuer's future financial performance. As noted
above in the list of vendors, all of the components can be regularly
purchased on the open market at the best competitive pricing;
2. existence of probable governmental regulation:
the definition of the interconnector sector was preserved in the FCC's
recent Open Internet rules, as cited above. To the extent that broadband
internet access service (BIAS) provider retailers will sell their
services on STR's system, those providers will be regulated by the FCC.
To the extent that STR's business remains as solely one of
interconnector service, meaning to include 'middle mile' fiber or
wireless microwave, as well as 'last mile' fiber, wireless microwave, or
wireless white space and satellite, STR will continue to fall within the
existing regulations for the sector. In other words, only if it were to
cross over into becoming a BIAS would STR come under the additional
regulations of the Open Internet rules. The key to becoming such would
be, and the determinative factor is, whether STR were to take space on
server at a datacenter, like say a Google data center. See,
www.google.com/about/datacenters/gallery/#/. At that point, STR would be
offering retail services, like email, search, content and other features
of retail. STR has no plans to do so as a part of this offering;
40
3. material terms of contracts:
As indicated above, with respect to projected labor requirements,
because investor funding has not yet been achieved, STR has not, and
will not, enter into an material labor contracts. Further, at the
present time, STR has no patents, trademarks, licenses, franchises,
concessions or royalty agreements;
4. unusual competitive conditions in the industry:
There are no known or anticipated unusual competitive conditions in the
industry, cyclicality of the industry or anticipated raw material or
energy shortages to the extent management may not be able to secure a
continuing source of supply. The two primary challenges for broadband in
rural America are building systems that reach into the unserved areas
using multi-technology solutions, ie. 'middle mile' fiber, wireless or
satellite, and 'last mile, ie., fiber, microwave wireless or white space
wireless or satellite, and then the great acceleration of the user
adoption rate, otherwise known as customer acquisition;
I. The Issuer's plan of operation for the twelve months following the
commencement of the proposed offering:
Proceeds will be utilized, immediately, to achieve full implementation
of the projects. All planning is in place, and there is, thus, nothing
else to do other than proceed to installation and activation.
As shown in the table of the use of proceeds and also the priority of
the use of the proceeds listing, there is a defined sequence that needs
to take place. STR provides here a first 12-month sketch of activity:
1. base station 'middle mile' location acquisitions;
2. base station installations;
3. base station Internet connection achieved;
4. 'The Shop' opens;
41
5. customer acquisition/branding/advertising program begins in the
project area;
6. first initial, approximately 80 residential installs, for beta
testing, per base station, are achieved and customer accounts activated
for the 20 base stations;
J. Proceeds from the offering to project cash requirements and whether,
in the next six months, it will be necessary to raise additional funds:
STR expands on further detail of the equipment necessary for business
operations. As a recap, assuming a white space technology installation
for the project areas, there is a 'middle mile' sending/ receiving radio
that is connected, like a cable connection, to an internet company's
line at that location. The internet company, either a 'middle mile'
interconnector company, or a BIAS that provides internet connection
wholesale, will supply to us, wholesale, an internet connection that can
handle the 80 accounts that each sending/receiving radio can
accommodate.
There will, then, be a white space receiving radio mounted on a mast at
the residence of the customer. That radio will have the signal from the
'middle mile' beamed to it, will receive it, will read it as belonging
to that customer, and, using the same coaxial cable that every
telecommunications provider uses, will send the signal through the
cable, through to an install site on the inside wall of the residence,
just like any other telecommunications service, and will be connected to
a router, just like any other service.
Once the router is connected, it will be configured to the customer's
account, just like any other telecommunications service, but with STR's
service, will be configured to the tablet that STR provides, and inside
WiFi will be achieved, as well as general broadband and data service.
Once the router is configured, the streaming video kit will be
configured for wireless, and will be connected to the customer's T.V.,
and activated. Or, the streaming kit could be connected to the T.V. with
a standard cable from a router port, depending on the location of the
T.V. and customer preference.
42
Once the streaming video is activated, the Skype app. will be configured
to the customer's smartphone and activated.
Then, the cloud storage receiver hardware will be configured to the
customer app., and activated.
At that point, the installer and the residents will reach the 'WOW'
point, jumping for joy!
Proceeds will be utilized in strict accordance with those budget
calculations and for install and activation.
As the budget may be measured by the amount of any proceeds at any one
given time, and then the project sector may be scaled accordingly, there
would be no need to raise additional funds for that sector.
For example, if the project raises an initial $600,000.00, then that
amount would go towards the installation of one of the big sending
radios, and 80 receiving radios in homes or offices. The only reason
that the full 80 may not be installed at the outset would be the result
of needing a higher capacity hardware install at the peering point. As
these costs are generally known, and may be calculated, in fact, whether
such additional capacity will be needed at any given sector would not be
known until the install begins.
For example, a base station location that otherwise qualifies for the
sending radio, one that has height and electricity and is not in an
FCC-prohibited flight path, among other factors, may not have an
internet connection, or may have one, but the hardware is not sufficient
to be able to handle the bandwidth that is needed. In this scenario, STR
would look for such a co-location, which would be nearby, and would make
contract arrangements to put a sending radio onto that co-location area,
to send the signal to the base station, where the 80-account radio will
be mounted.
All such calculations and variations of this theme have long been worked
out, and are overcome at a price/budget point that would allow for the
80 customer accounts to be placed on the big radio.
In terms of scaling, thus, if $6,000,000.00 were achieved, for example,
the number of pieces of hardware would simply be multiplied to
accommodate that funding award, and so forth.
43
K. Any engineering, management or similar reports:
For the purposes of this offering circular, and the requirements of
inclusiveness in order to provide to the potential investor with enough
information by which to make an investment decision, there have been no
engineering, management or similar reports which have which have been
prepared or provided for external use by the issuer or by a principal
underwriter:
L. Segment Data:
STR elaborates on the absence of any segment data to provide here. STR
reviewed the general definitions of 'segment data,' and as a reference
provides this link:
http://www.investopedia.com/articles/stocks/06/segmentdata.asp.
STR states here that, it is not a company of the size that would yield
such segment data at this time.
In addition, STR does not yet have an operating history that could
provide the underlying information so as to calculate for 'segment
data.'
STR would, however, anticipate achieving such valuable information and
calculations in the future.
VI.
ITEM 5.
DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY
STR describes here the location and general character of the principal
plants, and other materially important physical properties of the Issuer
and its subsidiaries. STR includes a description as to any such property
not held in fee or held subject to any major encumbrance.
44
To the greatest extent possible, STR seeks to avoid owning any
property in fee simple. STR elaborated on this topic in other sections
above. Such expenses, often promoted by vendors of such components as
cell. towers, have resulted, historically, in both unnecessary and
unsustainable, and therefore, unprofitable results.
Once the basic 'middle mile' and 'last mile' outside infrastructure are
in place, STR will implement a 'kit' system that that, it believes, will
result in the successful end user consumer component of its business
plan. Since STR will not be selling a product, like a car or a bicycle,
and since 'broadband' is invisible radio waves configured to computers,
it found that it needed a way to brand its service and the consumer
items that come with it. Driving a lot of the discussion was research
into the issue of user adoption rates for rural electrification. By
comparison, since STR would not be selling electric irons, or
refrigerators or washing machines, and since it is branding its systems
like a 'first car,' it arrived at the kit idea. A new first car owner,
for example, may want to buy a used car and install a new stereo system,
a 'kit.' Or, maybe a new set of wheels and tires, another 'kit.' Or, an
engine upgrade, another 'kit.'
STR wants something that will take the customer to 'The Shop' like a car
parts 'shop' to pick up items for their 'kit.' At the same time,
however, upon activation of the account, 'kit' parts are slated to
arrive by overnight courier, like FedEx, containing the first
components, likely an apparel set, and the tablet. Since the tablet can
be used anywhere, STR will encourage the new customer to take it
anywhere where there is public WiFi, like a library or Starbucks, and
read the instructions and become comfortable with it.
STR thought to deliver the streaming video and cloud storage kits to the
customer as well, but, in the beginning, have agreed that having the
customer 'come by 'The Shop' to pick up your streaming video and cloud
storage kit' will be the best way to show the customer how to use these
components.
Similarly with the Skype app. We anticipate that, likely, 100% of the
customers will come to 'The Shop' to 'pick up' and have configured, the
Skype component of their 'kit.'
Thus, all of these items, plus the router, and the streaming video and
cloud storage services will be a part of the framing and branding of
STR's service that, for the customer, begins with 'the kit.' We like
this idea and plan to implement it, and expand upon it with, for
example, holiday 'add-ons' like discount pricing on other tablets, or
upgrades to tablets and streaming kits and the like. We will be no
different than the
45
other companies that offer the same programs to customers in urban
and suburban areas, and we do not want to be different. All persons in
rural America should be at the same level of technology access and
consumer benefits as those in the urban and suburban areas of America.
Put another way, the era of 'cable is coming to my farm any time now,'
has largely ended. Further, the era of cell. towers for rural areas, has
also largely ended. Those two self-limiting sectors never adjusted their
business models to suit the needs of rural America, and have,
accordingly, and for good and sound business reasons limited to their
narrow function, abandoned the rural sector.
As detailed in other sections of this offering circular, however, the
projects will rely for both 'middle mile' and 'last mile' on both fiber,
wireless and satellite 'interconnector' points. For the reasons stated
in those other sections in this offering circular, because, those sector
companies already own their own assets, long term leases make the best
business sense.
STR expands, further, concerning the potential impact if the Issuer's
current strategy is unsuccessful. STR includes, but does not limit this
discussion to the effect to business operations if its projected plan
concerning physical property is unsuccessful.
STR reminds investors that this discussion, too, concerns
forward-looking statements, and further, that any investor must be
prepared to lose the total amount of investment as a result of investing
in STR.
This being said, as STR describes in other sections of this offering
circular, there exist extensive and well-defined market sector companies
for the interconnector industry. Thus, a recipe for failure would be
were STR to go outside those well-known companies that can be of the
best help to us. STR says this because, by avoiding the utilization of
those companies, STR, by default, thereby, avoids making what could be a
fatal decision to incur unnecessary costs, such as would drive up the
project price with no corresponding benefit to the project, to the
consumer or to the investors.
As an example, if, instead of placing a 'middle mile' base station at a
location where there is an existing broadband connection, for no
apparent reason, STR were to place it at a location nearby that has no
broadband connection, STR would have to absorb the cost of digging the
trench, laying the fiber and establishing the connection, things that
could have been avoided by simply using a location that already has a
connection.
46
Or, for example, in a case where there is a cell. tower within a
range where a 'middle mile' sending radio could be placed under a
standard lease with say, American Tower. If STR were to go through the
expense of placing a new tower nearby, for no apparent reason, STR
would, similarly unreasonably expend investor funds to accomplish the
same objective that a simple lease with the tower company would obtain.
STR states, therefore, that questions of physical property in the
interconnector sector are well-known, well-defined. There is a robust
and competitive business sector already in place that can accommodate
all aspects of this component of its business. Were STR to go outside of
this well-known industry, which it will not do, that is where the
investor would be concerned.
VII.
ITEM 6.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
AND SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYEES
A. DIRECTORS[27]
Tony Ramos - Board Chair
Age: 61
Term of Service in Office: 3 years, but an original founding member since 2009
Procedure for selection: shareholder vote
47
David J. Karre, M.L.S. - Vice Chair
Age: 66
Term of Service in Office: 3 years, but an original founding member since 2009
Procedure for selection: shareholder vote
Rex R. Helwig
Age: 56
Term of Service in Office: 3 years, but an original founding member since 2009
Procedure for selection: shareholder vote
B. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYEES
Tony Ramos, President
David J. Karre, M.L.S., Vice President & Secretary
Rex R. Helwig, Treasurer
C. FAMILY MEMBERS
There are no officers, directors or significant employees who have
family members in any such corresponding position, or who have any
controlling voting interest over such persons.
48
D. BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
Experience and principal occupations, employment and business experience
(5 years):
Tony Ramos
Dates of employment: March 1, 2009-present
Title: Founder & President
Company: STR & predecessors
Duties: Start up and run company
Supplemental: Leader. Third generation self-made entrepreneur. Qualified
issuer by the State of New York and the SEC for STR's sister companies,
Finger Lakes Region Rural Broadband Company, Inc., and Western Gateway
Region Rural Broadband Company, Inc. Member of the elite professional
political sector in Washington, D.C. of originators of Congressional
legislation. Veteran fundraiser. Member of the elite professional
political sector in Washington, D.C., of originators of significant
political policy/action campaigns. Writer and Issuer of JOBS Act
offerings, filings and shares.
Additional information:
a) the amount of securities of the Issuer held by the person as of the
thirtieth day before the filing of the registration statement:
Mr. Ramos holds no shares in STR;
b) the amount of securities covered by the registration statement to which
the person has indicated an intention to subscribe:
Mr. Ramos intends no subscription to the shares;
c) a description of any material interest of the person in any material
transaction with the issuer or a significant subsidiary effected within
the previous three years or proposed to be effected:
49
Mr. Ramos has a significant material interest, as the majority
shareholder of the parent company, Rural Broadband Company, Inc. (RBC)
in all facets of STR. He does not, however, hold any contracts with STR,
and, in addition, RBC's shares are exactly like those of the other
shareholders: common/voting;
d) the estimated remuneration to be paid during the next 12 months,
directly or indirectly, by the Issuer and all predecessors, parents,
subsidiaries, and affiliates of the Issuer:
The Issuer, STR, its parent, RBC, and its sister companies, all intend
to pay Mr. Ramos according to a formula that will be created by a
professional compensation specialist, reviewed and adopted by the boards
of all of the companies, and then disbursed according to that formula.
All of the founding members will participate, but, as of yet, no such
discussions have been held.
STR and the other companies, do, however, wish to inform investors that
such compensation, in exchange for the seven years of dedicated, and
largely uncompensated service, will be made and is deserved by the
founders.
David J. Karre, M.B.A., M.L.S.
Dates of employment: March 1, 2009-present
Title: Founder/officer/director
Company: RBC founding companies
Duties: officer/director
Dates of employment: March 1, 2011 - March 1, 2013
Title: CEO
Company: Four County Library System
Duties: CEO
Dates of employment: March 1, 2013-present
Title: Retired CEO
Company: Four County Library System
Duties:
Supplemental:Company pioneer. Founding member, 2009. Leader. Former
Chief Executive Officer of large, rural library system in New York, 42
libraries. Project organizer and leader for rural city 'sidewalk
Internet' company projects. Highly experienced local, State and Federal
lobbyist. Veteran fundraiser. Master of Business Administration and
Master of Library Science degrees.
50
Additional information:
a) the amount of securities of the Issuer held by the person as of the
thirtieth day before the filing of the registration statement:
Mr. Karre holds 11,765 shares in STR;
b) the amount of securities covered by the registration statement to
which the person has indicated an intention to subscribe:
Mr. Karre intends no subscription to the shares;
c) a description of any material interest of the person in any
material transaction with the issuer or a significant subsidiary
effected within the previous three years or proposed to be effected:
Mr. Karre has a significant material interest, as a founding shareholder in
all facets of STR. He does not, however, hold any contracts with STR, and, in
addition, his shares are exactly like those of the other
shareholders: common/voting;
d) the estimated remuneration to be paid during the next 12 months,
directly or indirectly, by the Issuer and all predecessors, parents,
subsidiaries, and affiliates of the Issuer:
The Issuer, STR, its parent, RBC, and its sister companies, all intend
to pay Mr. Karre according to a formula that will be created by a
professional compensation specialist, reviewed and adopted by the boards
of all of the companies, and then disbursed according to that formula.
All of the founding members will participate, but, as of yet, no such
discussions have been held.
STR and the other companies, do, however, wish to inform investors that
such compensation, in exchange for the seven years of dedicated, and
largely uncompensated service, will be made and is deserved by the
founders.
51
Rex R. Helwig
Dates of employment: March 1, 2009 - present
Title: Founder/officer/director
Company: RBC founding companies
Duties: officer/director
Dates of employment: March 1, 2011 - present (and prior)
Title: Computer Manager
Company: Finger Lakes Library System
Duties: Duties: Computer Network Services Manager
Supplemental: Company pioneer. Founding member, 2009. Project leader and
liaison. Duties: Manage a support team of 3 people to provide all
aspects of technical support to 33 member Public Libraries, plan and
budget for department and System, System Administrator for the Public
Library Integrated Library Software and all servers used by the Finger
Lakes Library System.
Additional information:
a) the amount of securities of the Issuer held by the person as of the
thirtieth day before the filing of the registration statement:
Mr. Helwig holds 11,765 shares in STR;
b) the amount of securities covered by the registration statement to
which the person has indicated an intention to subscribe:
Mr. Helwig intends no subscription to the shares;
c) a description of any material interest of the person in any
material transaction with the issuer or a significant subsidiary
effected within the previous three years or proposed to be effected:
Mr. Helwig has a significant material interest, as a founding shareholder in
all facets of STR. He does not, however, hold any contracts with STR, and, in
addition, his shares are exactly like those of the other
shareholders: common/voting;
52
d) the estimated remuneration to be paid during the next 12 months,
directly or indirectly, by the Issuer and all predecessors, parents,
subsidiaries, and affiliates of the Issuer:
The Issuer, STR, its parent, RBC, and its sister companies, all intend
to pay Mr. Helwig according to a formula that will be created by a
professional compensation specialist, reviewed and adopted by the boards
of all of the companies, and then disbursed according to that formula.
All of the founding members will participate, but, as of yet, no such
discussions have been held.
STR and the other companies, do, however, wish to inform investors that
such compensation, in exchange for the seven years of dedicated, and
largely uncompensated service, will be made and is deserved by the
founders.
E. Involvement in certain legal proceedings
1. Bankruptcy or State insolvency:
There are no members of the group who have been involved in such proceedings.
2. Criminal proceedings:
There are no members of the group who have been involved in any material
proceedings.
3. Other legal proceedings:
Investors are advised here that STR, its parent company, RBC, and its sister
companies, will not hesitate to enter into legal proceedings in matters that
may affect their ability to secure funding for projects.
As an example, STR, and its two New York sister companies, FLR and MHR, have
filed administrative-level complaints under the Federal Sherman Act and New
York's Donnelly Act, alleging antitrust violations relative to a $500 million
broadband funding opportunity by the State of New York, called the New NY
Broadband Program. So as to
53
avoid the companies becoming embroiled in contentious litigation at this
young stage of their careers, the Issuer's representative, Mr. Ramos has
filed a Donnelly Act case in Ulster County, New York, an MHR project
area. The Index Number in the New York Supreme Court for Ulster County
is: 16-1135
Investors should also know that, at the federal level, certain
administrative and legal proceedings will take place in the future. This
is simply the nature of the funding sector for vast federal funds that
may be available to the companies. Among the likely actions that will be
taken are those surrounding antitrust and other rules issues concerning
the FCC's Rural Broadband Experiments program. The program, which was
begun in 2014, allocates significant funds to be spent in the 84,000
unserved census blocks that the FCC has designated as 'unserved.' The
program, which was brand new, however, contained certain rules that
blocked STR and its sister companies, from competing for those funds.
Upon the re-opening of the program, if there are rules which block
access to those funds, STR will seek administrative and litigation
relief.
4. Policy proceedings:
Investors should also be made aware of RBC's robust policy shop in
Washington, D.C.
The path to rural broadband in America must, of necessity with such a
large national issue, run through Washington.
For this reason, STR has already begun the long process of drafting
legislation that will direct all federal government rural infrastructure
components into one piece of legislation and just one government
department or agency. STR calls the project, The Rural Digital Data Act,
and it has a website at www.digeday.com.
In addition, and however, RBC and its subsidiaries make formal comments
to Federal and State agencies on issues of broadband, broadband in
libraries and in other community anchor institutions that serve
vulnerable populations.
Thus, STR's policy shop positions it to drive and keep the focus on
rural America, and STR and its parent and sister companies are fast
becoming known as experts in the field.
54
VIII.
ITEM 7.
REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
A. Annual remuneration:
STR has not yet arrived at the point where it will retain the services of a
professional compensation expert to guide us on this issue;
B. Proposed remuneration payments:
STR has not yet arrived at the point where it will retain the services of a
professional compensation expert to guide us on this issue.
IX.
ITEM 8.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN SECURITYHOLDERS
A. Voting securities and principal holders thereof:
1. by all officers individually:
David Karre and Rex Helwig each own 11,765 common/voting shares of STR.
Their shares will be increased in accordance with the dilution formula
shown above, upon qualification, and therefore, issuance of more
treasury shares.
55
Mr. Ramos owns no shares, individually, in STR, but rather his ownership
interest is as a majority shareholder in RBC, which is the majority
shareholder of STR.
2. all officers as a group:
David Karre and Rex Helwig own a combined, 23,530 common/voting shares
in STR.
3. each shareholder who owns more than 10% of any class of the issuer's
securities, including those shares subject to outstanding options, or
'any person, or entity, owning of record or owning beneficially, if
known, 10% or more of the outstanding shares of any class of equity
security of the Issuer,' in Item 6 D., above:
Rural Broadband Company, Inc., owns 55% of STR.
Lusosystems, Inc. owns 10% of STR.
B. Ownership:
1. Pre-offering shares:
Consistent with the Amended Offering Circular, which is incorporated
into this Amended Offering Circular,[28] by reference, with the
exception of Rural Broadband Company, Inc. and Lusosystems, Inc., those
shareholders named therein all own shares in the amount of 2% or less of
shares owned before the offering, and will own their same respective
percentages, according to the dilution formula, after the offering.
Thus, in order to achieve a Regulation A funding offering of
$20,000,000.00, the amount of 200,000 shares will be issued, and then an
amount that, with the calculation of the dilution formula, will keep
those shareholders at the same percentage before this offering.
Thus, there will be no transfer of any 'pre-offering' shares. Upon
qualification, the new shares will be issued, and existing shareholders
will be issued such additional shares as are consistent with the
dilution formula set forth above. All dilution calculations are made by
a person who holds a Ph.D. in mathematics.
56
2. Control votes:
There are no persons who hold or share any voting power either pre-offering,
or post-offering;
3. 10% voting shares:
There are no persons who hold shares or the power to vote shares of 10% or more
of any shares other than direct owners of those shares.
C. Non-voting securities and principal holders thereof:
All shares are common/voting shares;
D. Options, warrants, and rights:
Consistent with the 'one class/ one price rule' there are no options, warrants
or rights;
E. List all parents of the issuer, showing the basis of control and
as to each parent the percentage of voting securities owned or other
basis of control by its immediate parent, if any:
1. Parent:
Rural Broadband Company, Inc. is the parent and project organizing
company for its subsidiaries, which are the operating companies. The
company was previously incorporated in Washington, D.C. Upon renewal,
however, company officials learned that the District of Columbia had
repealed its incorporation statute and replaced it only with
incorporation language for not-for-profit companies. RBC, thus,
incorporated itself in the State of Delaware, in 2015.
RBC owns 55% of STR.
2. Basis of control: majority ownership of shares;
3. Percentage of shares: 55%
57
X.
ITEM 9.
INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT
AND OTHERS IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Brief description of any transactions during the previous two years or
any presently proposed transactions, to which STR or any of its
subsidiaries was or is to be a party, in which any of the following
persons had or is to have a direct or indirect material interest, naming
such person and stating his relationship to the Issuer, the nature of
his/her interest in the transaction and, where practicable, the amount
of such interest:
A. Any director or officer of the issuer:
All of the officers and directors will have, in the future, material
interests in material transactions between STR and any other companies
or persons, and will work to make sure that such material interests with
outsiders are in the best interests of STR:
B. Any nominee for election as a director:
At the present time, there are no nominees for election as a director;
C. Any principal securityholder named in answer to Item 8 A., above:
There are no principal security holders who would hold any material
interest in any material transactions that differ from those mentioned
in Item 8 A, above;
D. If the Issuer was incorporated or organized within the past three
years, any promoter of the issuer:
58
The Issuer's representative, Tony Ramos, is also the Issuer of JOBS
Act/Rule 506 securities, and notice of same was filed by the uploading
of Form Regulation D onto EDGAR upon the opening of that opportunity, in
September, 2013.
See, EDGAR filing at:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1640170/000164017015000002/xslFo
rmDX01/primary_doc.xml
E. Any relative or spouse of any of the foregoing persons, or any
relative of such spouse, who has the same house as such person or who is
a director or officer of STR its parent or sister subsidiaries:
There are no relatives or spouses of any of the foregoing persons, or
any relative of such spouse, who has the same house as such person or
who is a director or officer of STR, its parent or any of its sister
subsidiaries;
F. Material transactions involving bank depositary of funds, transfer
agent, registrar, trustee under a trust indenture, or similar services:
There are no such material transactions or services.
There is no trustee under a trust indenture, or any other material
transactions.
There are no further 'similar services.'
G. Material transactions or a series of similar transactions, including
all periodic installments in the case of any lease or other agreement
providing for periodic payments or installments that does not exceed
$50,000:
There are no material transactions or a series of similar transactions,
including all periodic installments in the case of any lease or other
agreement providing for periodic payments or installments that do not
exceed $50,000.00;
59
H. Where the interest of the specified person arises solely from the
ownership of securities of the Issuer and the specified person receives
no extra or special benefit not shared on a pro-rata basis by all of
the holders of securities of the class:
There are no persons specified whose interest arises solely from the
ownership of securities of STR, and where such specified person receives
any extra or special benefit not shared on a pro-rata basis by all
holders of securities of the class, the class being common/voting;
I. Material indirect relationships:
1. there are no material indirect relationships from such person's
position as a director of another corporation or organization which is a
party to the transaction;
2. there are no material indirect relationships from the direct or
indirect ownership by such person and all other persons specified in
Item 8, above, individually or in the aggregate, of less than a 10
percent equity interest in another person which is a party to the
transaction:
3. there are no material indirect relationships where the interest of
such person arises solely from the holding of an equity interest
(including a limited partnership interest but excluding a general
partnership interest) or a creditor interest in another person which is
a party to the transaction with the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries
and the transaction is not material to such other person:
4. there are no material indirect relationships for any material
underwriting discounts and commissions upon the sale of securities by
STR where any of the specified persons was or is to be a principal
underwriter or is a controlling person, or member, of a firm which was
or is to be a principal underwriter:
5. there are no material indirect relationships as to any transaction
involving the purchase or sale of assets by or to STR, its parent or any
of its sister subsidiaries, otherwise than in the ordinary course of
business, and thus, no cost of the assets to the purchaser and, if
acquired by the seller within two years prior to the transaction, or
costs thereof to the seller:
60
6. there are no material indirect relationships involving any material
transactions which involve remuneration from STR, its parent or any of
its sister subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to any of the specified
persons for services in any capacity unless the interest of such persons
arises solely from the ownership individually or in the aggregate of
less than 10 percent of any class of equity securities of another
corporation furnishing the services to the issuer or its subsidiaries:
7. there are no persons on whose behalf any part of the offering is to
be made in a non-issuer distribution, except to the extent that any
authorized distributions by third-party sellers, who have not yet been
retained, are made.
XI.
ITEM 10.
SECURITIES BEING OFFERED
A. Capital stock:
l. title of class: common;
2. dividend rights: STR has not yet discussed dividends, and plan to do
so only in the context of retaining a compensation expert to guide us on
this issue;
3. voting rights: common to all. All shareholders have one vote for each
share owned;
4. liquidation rights:
Shareholder liquidation rights have not been discussed as of yet.
Shareholder 'resale' rights are governed by the Reg. A+ rules within the
first 12 months of sale, and, in aggregate, cannot exceed 30% of the
total shares sold. Further, excepting this modification to Rule 144 of
the SEC, any such sellers must comply with the remaining portions of the
rule;
61
5. preemptive rights:
There are no preemptive rights, and no contracts for any preemptive
rights, and thus, the 'one class / one price' format is maintained. In
general, however, all shareholders will be issued additional shares with
each successive new issue, consistent with their amounts held and as
calculated using the dilution formula shown above;
6. conversion rights:
There are no conversion rights because there is only one class of stock:
common/voting;
7. redemption provisions:
There has been no discussion, yet, as to any redemption of shares, and
same will take place upon the retainer of a compensation and shares
expert in order to provide guidance;
8. sinking fund provisions:
As there are no bonds being sold in this offering, there are no sinking
fund provisions ;
9. liability to further calls or to assessment by the issuer:
Because the qualification application is limited to $6 million[29] to be
sold by third-party sellers, there will be no calls or assessments by
the Issuer, without further application and qualification;
B. debt securities are being offered:
There are no debt securities being offered as all shares in the offering are
'one class/ one price.'
62
C. warrants, rights, or convertible securities:
There are no warrants, rights or convertible securities as all shares are
'one class/ one price.'
D. Balance sheet[30]:
Assets
Current Assets[31] 2014 2015 2016
Cash 0 1,292.72 0
Accounts
receivable 0 0 0
Inventory[32] 0 0 0
Prepaid
expenses[33] 0 0 0
Short-term
investments 0 0 0
Total current assets 0 0 0
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Fixed (long-term) Assets
Long-term
investments 0 0 0
Property, plant
& equipment
(less accumulated
depreciation)[34] 0 0 0
Intangible assets 0 0 0
Total fixed assets 0 0 0
Other Assets
Deferred income 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0
Total Other Assets 0 0 0
Total Assets 0 0 0
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Liabilities & Owner's Equity
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable[35] 0 0 0
Short-term loans 0 0 0
Income taxes payable 0 0 0
Accrued salaries
& wages 0 0 0
Unearned income 0 0 0
Current portion of
long-term debt 0 0 0
Total current liabilities 0 0 0
Long-term Liabilities
Long-term debt 0 0 0
Deferred income tax 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0
Total long-term liabilities 0 0 0
65
Owner's[36] Equity
Owner's investment[37] 0 0 0
Retained earnings 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0
Total owner's equity 0 0 0
Total Liabilities
& Owner's Equity 0 0 0
E. Statements of income, cash flows, and other stockholder equity:
Aside from the information provided in this offering circular, there are no
other statements of income, cash flows or other stockholder equity;
F. Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired or to be Acquired:
There are no businesses which have been acquired, and, at the present
time, no plans to acquire any businesses, and thus, there are no
financial statements other than any which are contained in this offering
circular.
This being said, in terms of future and long-term planning, STR will
likely acquire certain businesses, for example, small, local broadband
companies, where existing middle mile infrastructure makes such
purchases feasible, and also where such purchases, with an existing
customer base, may allow for ease of expansion into contiguous unserved
areas;
66
XII.
ITEM 11.
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION
Southern Tier Region Rural Broadband Company, Inc., requests qualification
by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
_________________________________________________________________
Footnotes:
[1] Current amendments made after Blue Sky qualification by the State of
New York.
[2] Expenses of this Offering Circular are borne exclusively
by the Issuer.
[3] 17 CFR 230.253
[4] All sales by the Issuer's representative to be concluded
only in the State of Georgia. Sales by third-party sellers to be made pursuant
to their own registrations in the States of Georgia or or other States.
[5] The minimum for this offering is $3 million, and maximum for this offering
is $6 million.
[6] No shares offered on account of any securities holders.
[7] The minimum for this offering is $3 million, and maximum for this offering
is $6 million.
[8] The minimum for this offering is $3 million, and maximum for this
offering is $6 million.
[9] The minimum for this offering is $3 million, and maximum for this
offering is $6 million.
[10] The minimum for this offering is $3
million, and maximum for this offering is $6 million.
[11] The minimum
for this offering is $3 million, and maximum for this offering is $6
million.
[12] The minimum for this offering is $3 million, and maximum for this
offering is $6 million.
[13] Funds largely for New York Blue Sky qualification expenses.
[14] The minimum for this offering is $3 million, and maximum for this
offering is $6 million.
[15] See, In Re Donald J. Trump Casino Securities Litigation - Taj
Mahal Litigation, 7 F.3d 357 (3rd Cir. 1993)
[16] See, Section 3 (b) (2) (C), SEC Rules, JOBS Act and Rule 405, SEC Rules
[17] During the course of that survey period, Mr. Ramos mistakenly
stated the effective date of JOBS Act/ Rule 506 in offering documents
being prepared in anticipation of being offered in the State of Florida.
He resolved the issue with a pledge to avoid any such misstatements in
the future. The matter is reported
here:http://www.flofr.com/StaticPages/documents/OFRMonthlyReport122013.pdf
[18] See, footnote 5
[19] The minimum for this offering is $3 million, and maximum for this
offering is $6 million.
[20] The minimum for this offering is $3 million, and maximum for this
offering is $6 million.
[21] The minimum for this offering is $3 million, and maximum for this
offering is $6 million.
[22] The minimum for this offering is $3 million, and maximum for this
offering is $6 million.
[23] As amended, effective June 19, 2015.
[24] See, www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/rural-broadband-experiments
[25] Rural Broadband Company, Inc.
[26] A useful analogy is with the earlier implementation of rural
electrification in the United States.
[27] As with any new company, where service is basically voluntary, some
officers and directors have been unable to donate any further time to the
company. Elections for officers and directors are held in January of each year.
[28] An earlier version of this Amended Offering Circular was uploaded onto
EDGAR at the same time as the applicant's reply letter to the SEC.
[29] The minimum for this offering is $3 million, and maximum for this
offering is $6 million.
[30] Form 1-A, Part F/S (a)(1) & (b)(1)(2) & (3)(A).
[31] The company was formed specifically to comply with both pre and post-JOBS
Act requirements for Rule 506.
[32] The company does not sell product, and thus would have no inventory.
[33] Prior to the formation of the company, so as to comply with JOBS Act
requirements, the project area that encopasses the company's reach, together
with other project areas, to include other applicant companies, did achieve
significant prepaid expense funding relative to the applications for stimulus
funding. All of this funding activity pre-dated JOBS Act, and occurred largely
in the years 2009-2010. That original funding allowed for the initial
development of the company's project area and initial design.
[34] The company will make every effort to avoid owning property, such
as land sites for cell. towers, or buildings for base stations. Such
property has been shown to be of a loss nature for such projects, and,
in addition, there is already a well-developed industry for the cellular
tower sector that makes the ownership of property for the projects
largely unnecessary. Further, plant and equipment, for the most part,
will be owned by either the original equipment manufacturer and/or the
distributor, and leased to the company.
[35] There are no accounts payable by the company. In the near future,
however, consistent with its corporate structure, the parent company
will expend funds to prepay for certain GIS mapping of one of the
project areas within the company. This project area will serve as the
first defined area for funding for Regulation A investors, upon approval
of the Regulation A application.
[36] To the extent that this term describes the company. This as opposed to
shares owned by individuals.
[37] To say again, the project area did benefit from prepaid expense
funding that was provided in the beginning years for stimulus funding
grant applications.
67