The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports on LTD Broadband…
The Federal Communications Commission has upheld a decision to block LTD Broadband from using any part of $1.3 billion in federal grants to subsidize the construction of high-speed internet infrastructure, including a major proposed buildout in Minnesota.
The FCC this week denied an appeal from LTD and proposed a nearly $22 million penalty for the embattled telecom company. The agency and many critics in Minnesota say the company is unlikely to deliver on its promises to serve rural areas lacking adequate broadband after winning a grant contest in 2020.
Corey Hauer, CEO of Nevada-based LTD, told the Star Tribune the company is “disappointed in the two FCC decisions and are evaluating our options, including taking the FCC to court.”
They added…
Separately, the FCC also said Hauer created a similar company named GigFire potentially to evade liability for LTD’s actions. The agency hasn’t imposed the penalty yet, but can do so after LTD has a chance to respond.
In March 2023, LTD Broadband announced a name change to GigiFi. I remember the announced predated a new website. (It looks like there is a gigifi based in Puerto Rico.) Now the LTD Broadband website mentions and redirects the visitor to GigFire. It’s unclear to me whether this is a rebranding or a new venture. Both GigFire and LTD Broadband currently show up as vendors on the FCC National Broadband Map. That seems problematic, especially when they seem to cover the same area.
The map below from the FCC National Map shows where GigFire serves FTTH (in pink) and unlicensed fixed wireless (in purple):
And here is the same map for LTD Broadband…
A good summary of the LTD rebrand and future strategy was captured in this article. In short, LTD is trying to distance itself from their dispute with the FCC.
Summary:
“James Childs, GigFire’s new chief strategy officer, said the move is designed to make the business more appealing to prospective investors. “Private investment money does not want to hear about a fight with the government,” he said, referring to LTD Broadband’s dispute with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) support.”
https://www.fiercetelecom.com/broadband/ltd-broadband-now-gigfire-puts-rdof-shelf-targets-1m-new-passings
LTD/Gigfire is also failing in customer service by not providing timely refunds (if at all) to annual payers when service is cancelled early (despite their no hidden fees and no commitment claims originally).
I’m sorry to hear that!