Premium Choice Broadband acquires Moosehead Enterprises

By Mike Lange, Eastern Gazette • February 2, 2017 BREWER – Premium Choice Broadband (PCB) of Brewer announced last week that it has completed its acquisition of Moosehead Enterprise of Greenville in a private sale. “Through the combination of PCB and Moosehead Enterprises, the leading TV broadband and telecom company in rural Maine will be creating, providing synergistic access to remote communities in the state of Maine,” according to a press release from PCB. “For PCB, acquiring a new company with complementary strengths will lead it to the next level of innovation in Maine’s media and communications industry.”   Moosehead Enterprises currently provides cable television service to Bingham, Greenville, Guilford, Jackman, Monson and Rockwood.  Moosehead Enterprises was started by Earl Richardson Sr. along with Richard and Max Folsom in 1963. Richardson also owned other businesses in Greenville including the Boom Chain Restaurant, served on numerous municipal boards and committees and in Maine Legislature for four terms. He passed away in 2007.   Richardson’s son, Earl Jr. or “E.J.” was the owner prior to last week’s sale.    Moosehead Cable had been working with PCB for some time to offer additional service of internet and phone to its customers.   The combined companies will now serve over 5,000 subscribers in six counties. The Moosehead Cable and PCB workforce are still employed and an additional person has been added to the staff.   Current PCB customers may see television service as part of the suite of services in the future, although it would require a major equipment upgrade with the Moosehead Cable system. For Moosehead Cable customers, there will now be high-speed internet service brought to additional rural areas in Maine that may not have had internet service available. Prior to the acquisition, Moosehead Cable and PCB offered cable TV, internet and phone service in Greenville and Guilford. Since the acquisition, internet coverage has expanded into Jackman and Rockwood with the Bingham and Monson area next on the expansion list.  “We couldn’t be more excited about the potential of this opportunity and additional benefits that will be offered to our clientele,” said Bill Varney, CEO of PCB. “We are joining two high-growth businesses in communities that are underserved in digital access and content services. By combining our operations, we are able to create a unique and diversified business, which will significantly enhance the user experience for our customers. This coupled with our new fiber to the home project in Surry will put us in a position to bring speeds to consumers that they want today!” The Moosehead Cable office at 3 Lakeview Street in Greenville will remain open and continue to serve as local customers’ main location. However, customers can also contact Premium Choice Broadband 735-2611.