Half of ITC^DeltaCom's fiber network belonged to power companies. Duke Power, Florida Power & Light and Entergy owned about 3,000 route miles, and the West Point, Georgia company managed and sold the capacity. It owned another 3,000 miles itself, running from Georgia to Texas. In 1997 ITC^DeltaCom planned to sell southern businesses local, long distance, data and internet service in one package.

Two Businesses, One Network

The company ran two lines of business. Carriers' Carrier Services sold bulk capacity on its fiber to other phone companies. Retail Services sold phone and internet packages to businesses across ten southern states. Its Gulf States FiberNet routes began carrying traffic in 1994 and 1995. ITC Holding Company, an investor in southern telecom businesses, had been its sole stockholder. Pro forma revenue in 1996 was about $85.4 million.

Bankruptcy, Then EarthLink

ITC^DeltaCom sold 5 million shares at $16.50 in October 1997, raising $82.5 million, and listed on Nasdaq as ITCD. An over-allotment option could lift the total to $94.9 million. In 2002 it filed for Chapter 11 and reorganized. On October 1, 2010, EarthLink agreed to buy the company for $3.00 a share in cash. The deal closed that December, and ITC^DeltaCom became part of EarthLink.

Cover: The Marsh, Charles François Daubigny. Art Institute of Chicago, public domain. Chosen for a southern marsh (the Delta).