Investment firm Palisade Infrastructure has completed the acquisition of 100% of the equity interests in Mashell, Inc., parent company of Rainier Connect, a 110-year old telecom and broadband provider that serves Tacoma and other Washington communities. Now that the transaction is complete, Palisade will take on the operations of Rainier Connect as well as ownership of the high-speed internet, streaming TV and voice provider.
Rainier Connect’s name has now been changed to Lightcurve. The new name is intended to represent the next chapter in the company’s history and marks the beginning of significant investments in fiber internet infrastructure, according to a press release.
Lightcurve will make upgrades in expansion markets across several counties including Pierce, King, Lewis, Snohomish, and Thurston over the next several months.
“The transaction represents our first step in the creation of a regional platform for fiber and high-speed broadband connectivity. We also recently announced a transaction to acquire the Washington properties of Consolidated Communications, furthering our commitment to Lightcurve as the trusted regional provider of broadband,” Mike Reynolds, managing director, Americas of Palisade Infrastructure, said in a prepared statement.
“Our commitment to the community and customers will not only continue but will be stronger than ever. There’s a huge hole in the rural and under-resourced communities that needs to be filled with broadband and we are committed to closing the digital divide. We are dedicated to helping connect as many Americans to high-speed internet as possible and create new opportunities in the communities we serve,” said Reynolds.
Rainier Connect has been part of the K-12 Bridge to Broadband initiative.
