Avalon Gardens is the ninth HACLA community to join Starry
Connect, providing residents affordable broadband access without
requiring credit checks or complex eligibility requirements to
participate;
Starry’s expansion to Avalon Gardens is part of its
collaboration with Microsoft's Airband Initiative, to accelerate
the availability of low-cost broadband access in public
housing;
Starry and Microsoft also announce intentions to refurbish the
Avalon Gardens community computer lab.
Starry, Inc., (the “Company” or “Starry”) a next generation
licensed fixed wireless technology developer and internet service
provider, today announced it has expanded its affordable,
high-capacity internet service to the 164 households at Avalon
Gardens, a Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA)
community in the Green Meadows neighborhood of Los Angeles. Avalon
Gardens is the ninth HACLA community to be connected to Starry’s
affordable, high-speed broadband service and the fifth community to
be connected as part of Starry’s work with Microsoft’s Airband
Initiative. In addition, Starry announced plans with Microsoft to
refurbish the Avalon Gardens community computer lab with new WiFi
access, new computers, printers and accessories for use by
residents.
Starry first launched its partnership with HACLA in June 2020,
during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, to provide its Starry
Connect service to the 601 households at Mar Vista Gardens in Los
Angeles’ Del Rey neighborhood. In October 2020, Starry expanded on
this effort with HACLA by collaborating with the Mayor’s Office of
Budget and Innovation and Microsoft’s Airband Initiative to
accelerate the availability of its low-cost, high-quality broadband
service in four additional HACLA communities: Imperial Courts,
Nickerson Gardens, Pueblo Del Rio and Jordan Downs. Reliable,
affordable home broadband access has been critically important
during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to enable virtual learning,
working from home and access to telehealth and social service
resources. Through the collective efforts of Starry, HACLA, the
Mayor’s Office, and Microsoft, more than 4,600 HACLA households now
have access to an affordable broadband option through Starry.
“Access to a reliable internet connection is more essential
today than ever for parents, students, job seekers, and folks
looking to stay connected with their loved ones,” said Los
Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Through this program, Starry is
providing the residents of Avalon Gardens with that connection and
opening new doors of opportunity to employment, education, and
more.”
“We believe every family deserves access to affordable,
high-quality home broadband service and our goal with Starry
Connect is to extend that access to communities we know are being
underserved,” said Chet Kanojia, Starry co-Founder and CEO.
“With committed partners like HACLA, the Mayor’s Office and
Microsoft, we’re able to make affordable broadband access a reality
for families who might otherwise go without. Having robust home
internet access has never been more important and we’re proud to
serve our HACLA families with a broadband service that is not just
reliable, but delights. Thank you to our partner Microsoft for
continuing to support our efforts to expand digital access and
inclusion in public housing.”
“Here at the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, we’re
so happy to see our partnership with Starry going strong,” said
HACLA President & CEO Doug Guthrie. “Many people are
still working and learning from home, and it’s important that we
make digital inclusion a priority. With Starry Connect now
available at more than half of our public housing sites, we are
well on our way to closing the digital inequity gap in our
communities.”
“Today’s launch means families will receive access to
affordable, high-quality broadband, but more importantly, they’ll
gain access to new opportunities and tools that can help change
lives,” said Teresa Huston, Vice President, Tech and Corporate
Responsibility Group, Microsoft. “We’re confident that
we can permanently close the broadband gap and extend digital
equity for all, and today’s efforts with Starry and HACLA are an
excellent example of the collaboration we need to make that
happen.”
All HACLA residents within the nine served communities have the
option to sign up for Starry Connect, a high-speed, 30 Mbps
symmetrical home broadband service for $15 per month with no data
caps, no long-term contracts, no credit checks, no extra fees for
equipment and free installation and 24/7 world-class customer
support. Additional speed tiers are also available to residents.
HACLA residents can also sign up for Starry’s service and opt-into
the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a
federal benefit will provide a discount of up to $30 per month
towards home broadband access for eligible households.
Starry launched its Starry Connect program in 2018 to address
the growing digital divide by providing an affordable and
ultra-low-barrier broadband option to public and affordable housing
communities. Starry Connect brings ultra-low-cost broadband service
to public and affordable housing residents without requiring credit
checks, long-term contracts, individual eligibility requirements
(such as household participation in SNAP, WIC or Medicaid) or a
lengthy application process. This innovative approach to removing
broadband adoption barriers earned Starry designation as
ConnectHomeUSA stakeholder through the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development in 2019.
“The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
continues to invest in strengthening the housing market and economy
– building a stronger, more equitable America,” said Laurie
Udit, HUD’s Los Angeles Area Field Office Director.
“ConnectHome started as a collaborative initiative between
communities, the private sector, and federal government to expand
high-speed internet access to more families nationwide – over the
past decade, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles
(HACLA) has been a partner with HUD through ConnectHome. Access to
the internet should not be a luxury only afforded to the few; this
incredible cross-sector partnership between HACLA, Mayor Eric
Garcetti, Starry Internet, and the Microsoft Corporation is
bringing together advanced technologies, upgraded capabilities, and
affordable internet for hundreds of low income, vulnerable
households that need it most. HUD is proud to be part of projects
such as this that continue to close the digital divide and bring
under-served communities into the 21st century.”
Starry Internet is available in Los Angeles, Boston, New York
City, Washington, DC, Denver and Columbus, OH. On October 7, 2021,
Starry announced that it will become a public company through a
business combination with FirstMark Horizon Acquisition Corp.
(“FirstMark”) (NYSE: FMAC). To learn more about Starry, visit:
https://starry.com. To learn more about Starry Connect, become a
Starry Connect partner or sign-up for Starry Connect service, visit
https://starry.com/starryconnect.
About Starry, Inc.
At Starry, Inc. (“Starry”), we believe the future is built on
connectivity and that connecting people and communities to
high-speed, broadband internet should be simple and affordable.
Using our innovative, wideband hybrid-fiber fixed wireless
technology, Starry is deploying gigabit capable broadband to the
home without bundles, data caps, or long-term contracts. Starry is
a different kind of internet service provider. We’re building a
platform for the future by putting our customers first, protecting
their privacy, ensuring access to an open and neutral net, and
making affordable connectivity and digital equity a priority.
Headquartered in Boston and backed by world-class investors, Starry
is currently available in Boston, New York City, Los Angeles,
Washington, DC, Denver and Columbus and is expanding nationwide. To
learn more about Starry or to join our team and help us build a
better internet, visit: https://starry.com.
About FirstMark Horizon Acquisition Corp.
FirstMark Horizon Acquisition Corp. (“FirstMark”) is a special
purpose acquisition company whose mission is to drive long-term
value creation by actively supporting the next generation of iconic
public companies. FirstMark is comprised of a team of seasoned
investors and industry executives with an extensive track record of
identifying transformative trends across innovative subsectors of
technology. Notably, FirstMark's management team is composed of the
founders and executives of FirstMark Capital, a prominent
technology venture capital firm founded in 2008 with $2.3 billion
in total capital commitments, which has backed entrepreneurs that
have created leading companies, many valued at over a billion
dollars. For more information, please visit
http://firstmarkhorizon.com.
Additional Information about the Business Combination and
Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed business combination, Starry
Group Holdings, Inc., (formerly known as Starry Holdings, Inc.,
“Starry Group Holdings”), a newly formed subsidiary of Starry, has
filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Form S-4”) with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 5,
2021 (as amended on December 20, 2021, January 14, 2022, February
4, 2022 and February 9, 2022). The Form S-4 includes a proxy
statement of FirstMark and a prospectus of Starry Group Holdings,
referred to as a proxy statement/prospectus. The S-4 has been
declared effective by the SEC and the definitive proxy
statement/prospectus has been sent to all FirstMark stockholders.
Additionally, Starry Group Holdings and FirstMark have also filed
and may continue to file other relevant materials with the SEC in
connection with the proposed business combination. Copies of the
Form S-4, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and all other
relevant materials filed or that will be filed with the SEC by
FirstMark or Starry Group Holdings may be obtained free of charge
at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Before making any voting or
investment decision, investors and security holders of FirstMark
are urged to read the Form S-4, the definitive proxy
statement/prospectus and all other relevant materials filed or that
will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed business
combination because they will contain important information about
the proposed business combination and the parties to the proposed
business combination.
Participants in Solicitation
FirstMark, Starry Group Holdings and Starry and their respective
directors and executive officers, under SEC rules, may be deemed to
be participants in the solicitation of proxies of FirstMark’s
stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination.
Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information
regarding the names and interests in the proposed business
combination of FirstMark’s directors and officers in FirstMark’s
filings with the SEC, including FirstMark’s registration statement
on Form S-1, which was originally filed with the SEC on September
18, 2020. To the extent that holdings of FirstMark’s securities
have changed from the amounts reported in FirstMark’s registration
statement on Form S-1, such changes have been or will be reflected
on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC.
Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be
deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies to FirstMark’s
stockholders in connection with the business combination is
included in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to
the proposed business combination. You may obtain free copies of
these documents as described in the preceding paragraph.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication shall not constitute a proxy statement or
solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to
any securities or in respect of the proposed business combination.
This communication shall also not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of FirstMark, Starry
Group Holdings or Starry, nor shall there be any sale of securities
in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or
sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under
the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. No offering
of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting
the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this communication are
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe
harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995 with respect to the proposed business combination between
FirstMark and Starry. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,”
“project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,”
“may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believe,” “predict,”
“potential,” “continue,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,”
“would,” “seem,” “seek,” “outlook” and similar expressions are
intended to identify such forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other
statements about future events that are based on current
expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks
and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ
materially from the expected results. These statements are based on
various assumptions, whether or not identified in this
communication. These forward-looking statements are provided for
illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and
must not be relied on by an investor as, a guarantee, an assurance,
a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability.
Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to
predict and will differ from assumptions. These forward-looking
statements include, without limitation, Starry’s and FirstMark’s
expectations with respect to the anticipated financial impacts of
the proposed business combination, the satisfaction of closing
conditions to the proposed business combination, and the timing of
the completion of the proposed business combination. You should
carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the
“Risk Factors” section of FirstMark’s registration statement on
Form S-1 (File No. 333-248916), its Annual Report on Form 10-K, as
amended from time to time, for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2020, and its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. In
addition, there are risks and uncertainties described in the
definitive proxy statement/prospectus filed by Starry Group
Holdings and other documents filed by FirstMark or Starry Group
Holdings from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and
address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual events and results to differ materially from those contained
in the forward-looking statements. Most of these factors are
outside Starry’s, Starry Group Holdings’ and FirstMark’s control
and are difficult to predict. Many factors could cause actual
future events to differ from the forward-looking statements in this
communications, including but not limited to: (1) the outcome of
any legal proceedings that may be instituted against FirstMark,
Starry or Starry Group Holdings following the announcement of the
proposed business combination; (2) the inability to complete the
proposed business combination, including due to the inability to
concurrently close the business combination and related
transactions, including the private placements of common stock and
convertible notes or due to failure to obtain approval of the
stockholders of FirstMark; (3) the risk that the proposed business
combination may not be completed by FirstMark’s business
combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an
extension of the business combination deadline if sought by
FirstMark; (4) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the
consummation of the proposed business combination, including the
approval by the stockholders of FirstMark, the satisfaction of the
minimum trust account amount following any redemptions by
FirstMark’s public stockholders and the receipt of certain
governmental and regulatory approvals; (5) delays in obtaining,
adverse conditions contained in, or the inability to obtain
necessary regulatory approvals or complete regulatory reviews
required to complete the proposed business combination; (6) the
occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could
give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; (7)
volatility in the price of FirstMark’s, Starry’s or Starry Group
Holdings’ securities; (8) the risk that the proposed business
combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of
the announcement and consummation of the business combination; (9)
the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed
business combination, which may be affected by, among other things,
competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage
growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and
suppliers and retain key employees; (10) costs related to the
proposed business combination; (11) changes in the applicable laws
or regulations; (12) the possibility that the combined company may
be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or
competitive factors; (13) the risk of downturns and a changing
regulatory landscape in the highly competitive industry in which
Starry operates; (14) the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic;
(15) Starry’s ability to obtain or maintain rights to use licensed
spectrum in any market in which Starry operates and potential
declines in the value of Starry’s FCC licenses; (16) the potential
inability of Starry to raise additional capital needed to pursue
its business objectives or to achieve efficiencies regarding other
costs; (17) the enforceability of Starry’s intellectual property,
including its patents, and the potential infringement on the
intellectual property rights of others, cyber security risks or
potential breaches of data security; and (18) other risks and
uncertainties described in FirstMark’s registration statement on
Form S-1 and Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended from time to
time, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and its
subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and in the definitive
proxy statement/prospectus filed by Starry Group Holdings. These
risks and uncertainties may be amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic,
which has caused significant economic uncertainty. Starry, Starry
Group Holdings and FirstMark caution that the foregoing list of
factors is not exclusive or exhaustive and not to place undue
reliance upon any forward-looking statements, including
projections, which speak only as of the date made. None of Starry,
Starry Group Holdings or FirstMark gives any assurance that Starry,
Starry Group Holdings or FirstMark will achieve its expectations.
None of Starry, Starry Group Holdings or FirstMark undertakes or
accepts any obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future developments or otherwise, or should
circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities
and other applicable laws.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220218005383/en/
Investors for Starry and Starry Group Holdings:
investors@starry.com
Investors for FirstMark: Eric D. Cheung
eric@firstmarkcap.com
Media Contact: Mimi Ryals, Starry mryals@starry.com
press@starry.com
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