- Revenue increased quarter over quarter to $34.6 million from $33.5 million
- Closed the acquisition of Manti Telephone Company on January 1, 2025
- Completed the $15M Iowa broadband project and received $7.2M in state grant funding
- Commenced construction on the $25M ReConnect III grant project in Deming, New Mexico
2025-Unaudited First Quarter Results
Rye, NY – May 23, 2025 – LICT Corporation (“LICT” or the “Company”; OTC Pink®: LICT) reports financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
Total revenues for the first quarter of 2025 increased by $1.1 million, or 3.3%, to $34.6 million, compared to $33.5 million in the same quarter of 2024.
Non-regulated revenues for the first quarter of 2025 increased by $900,000, or 4.9%, to $19.4 million, compared to $18.5 million in the prior year’s first quarter, driven by higher sales of broadband services and high-speed data circuits.
Regulated revenues were $15.2 million in the first quarter of 2025, representing an increase of $200,000, or 1.3%, compared to $15.0 million. Regulated revenues were bolstered by initial inclusion of $800,000 from Manti Telephone Company (MTC). This acquisition, which closed on January 1, 2025, underscores our continued strategic expansion in rural markets. The quarter was crimped by a decline in voice and interstate access revenues due to a drop in special access circuits which have been replaced with lower-cost broadband services.
Total EBITDA for the first quarter of 2025 was $13.8 million, compared to $14.7 million in the first quarter of 2024, reflecting a decrease of $900,000, or 6.1%. This decline was primarily driven by increased operating costs, including higher expenses for expanded staffing and professional services related to our operational expansion, as well as elevated repair and maintenance activity in the Company’s New Mexico and Utah operations.
Effective February 1, 2025, under Dan Morrison, former President of our California-Oregon operations assumed responsibility for our New Mexico operations. The leadership team is actively collaborating with existing staff to advance the build-out initiatives under both the Enhanced Alternative Connect America Model (E-ACAM) program and the ReConnect grant program. In parallel, the team remains focused on executing operational enhancements and disciplined cost management strategies aimed at improving efficiency and supporting sustainable revenue and margin growth.
Non-regulated EBITDA for the first quarter of 2025 was $7.3 million, unchanged from the same period in 2024.
Regulated EBITDA for the first quarter of 2025 was $6.5 million, compared to $7.4 million in the same period of 2024, reflecting a decrease of $900,000, or 12.2%. The decline was primarily driven by losses of wireline customers who are choosing to drop their voice service but are subscribing to high-speed data service, reduced revenues due to a mandatory 5% reduction in switched regulatory revenues and higher operating expenses as detailed above.
OTHER INCOME/(EXPENSES) – Total other income increased by $700,000 in the first quarter of 2025, compared to a loss of $700,000 in the first quarter of 2024. This improvement was primarily driven by a $1.0 million favorable change in unrealized gains on our 19% investment in MachTen, Inc.
EARNINGS PER SHARE – Earnings per share from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2025 were $256 per share compared to $294 per share in last year’s first quarter.
Share Repurchase – Program – During the first quarter of 2025, the Company repurchased 166 shares for a total of $2.6 million, at an average price of $14,391 per share. This reflects the Company’s continued commitment to disciplined capital allocation and enhancing long-term shareholder value. As of March 31, 2025, LICT had 16,007 shares outstanding.
FCC Programs and Other Capital Expenditures
- ENHANCED ALTERNATIVE CONNECT AMERICA COST MODEL (E-ACAM) PROGRAM
- LICT’s voluntary election of the FCC’s Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (“E-ACAM”) became effective January 1, 2024. LICT’s mandatory build- out requirements of 100/20 Mbps by December 31, 2028 to 19,609 E-ACAM locations is required for receipt of increased E-ACAM support through 2038. The E-ACAM program is designed to further increase speed and expand the deployment of broadband capabilities throughout the nation’s rural areas.
- Under E-ACAM, in the new program LICT entities receive a total of $37.2 million annually through 2038 (subject to a one-time true-up to be determined by the FCC by 12/31/2025).
- The gross Capital Expenditures to meet the build-out requirements for E-ACAM total $170 million which is required and expected to be completed by December 31, 2028.
- RECONNECT III and RECONNECT IV–
- As previously announced, LICT has been awarded $157.5 million for seven United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) ReConnect III and ReConnect IV grants awarded in Kansas, California and New Mexico with a total project cost of $171.2 million, of which, our share of cost will be approximately $13.7 million. These grants require us to provide 1 Gig of fiber broadband speed. The Kansas grant and Deming New Mexico ReConnect grant projects have fiber construction underway with two additional grants in New Mexico ready to commence construction after having received environmental clearance. LICT has been actively working to receive environmental clearance for the remaining ReConnect grant awards before construction can commence.
- AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM (ACP)
- Under the FCC ACP program (which was terminated in May of 2024) eligible customers received broadband credit of up to $30 per month (up to $75 for households on Tribal Lands) towards their qualifying internet plan. During 2024, our approximately 1,550 eligible customers received just over $350,000 in credits. LICT has informed its ACP customers that the company will continue an equivalent Extended Broadband Discount (EBD) through June 30, 2025, at LICT’s cost. The Company is currently evaluating options to further extend the EBD beyond this date.
Strategic Initiatives
Acquisitions: On January 1, 2025, following receipt of all required regulatory approvals, the Company completedthe acquisition of Manti Telephone Company (MTC), the regulated business segment of the broader Manti transaction. This acquisition was financed with $8.3 million of seller debt and $12,000 cash and aligns with the Company’s strategic focus on expanding its presence in rural markets and enhancing its broadband service capabilities.
We are pleased to welcome the MTC team to the Company and look forward to working together to deliver high-quality service to customers and drive long-term value for our stakeholders.
Projects: In March 2025, our wholly owned subsidiary, Central Scott telephone, completed its $15 million broadband infrastructure expansion project in Scott County, Iowa, as part of the Iowa Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) 6 grant program. Following the successful deployment of Fiber to approximately 1,900 locations in our Central Scott exchange, the Company received the expected $7.2 million in grant funding from the State of Iowa on March 31, 2025.
Fixed Wireless/5G — Sound Broadband LLC, the wireless subsidiary of LICT Corporation, completed 5G deployments in its existing markets and expanded into new regions, including New Mexico, California, Kansas, and Utah. The company is currently identifying sites in California, Iowa and Kansas for new expansion markets, while also working to reduce costs across its current deployments to deliver the highest speeds at the best possiblecost to customers. Sound Broadband remains committed to bridging the digital divide and delivering next-generation connectivity across diverse sectors and underserved regions.