SLO telecoms to merge
Norcast Telecom and Blue Rooster Telecom, two San Luis Obispo-based firms that provide voice and data service to about 2,500 Central Coast business customers, are merging.
Norcast has been in business since 1999 providing phone service and started to deliver data in 2003. Over the past two years, it has built out a system to deliver 100 Mbps Internet service to businesses in San Luis Obispo and North Santa Barbara counties.
Blue Rooster was founded in 2010 by Jeff Buckingham and Cheryl Lovell. It focused on creating custom data and voice plans for businesses.
“We are motivated to strengthen our services and products, and to provide our customers with the best local telecom at the best value,” Norcast Telecom Networks CEO Michael Gayaldo said in a release.
After the transaction’s expected close in November, Gayaldo will remain CEO, Buckingham will be president, Lovell will serve as chief operating office and Jacquie Johnston will continue as business partner. All of Blue Rooster’s employees will move over to Norcast.
“We’ve shared a network with Norcast and always felt our companies had a lot in common,” Buckingham said in a release. “Our staff is what sets both of our companies apart from competitors, which is why we are pleased to join the team, making our services and products even better in the process.”
The companies together serve about 2,500 businesses. There will be no interruption in services with the merger, but Norcast will change its corporate logo from red to blue and adopt Blue Roo, the colorful chicken that served as the company’s mascot.
