Nathan Stubbs

LUS Fiber revenue, expenses up in August

by Nathan Stubbs

A jump in monthly expenses outpaced a revenue increase of 21 percent for LUS Fiber's telecommunications business for the month of August. The numbers, part of the business' most recent monthly financial report, show expenses climbing from $559,757.71 in July to $843,724.33 in August, a 34 percent increase. LUS Director Terry Huval has said that the business' expenses are directly tied to its growing subscriber base. The nascent business also faces other startup expenses as it expands its fiber-to-the-home phone, cable and Internet service. The business launched in February. Huval recently announced that the fiber buildout is running ahead of schedule and now is on target to be offered citywide by July 2010.

The report shows retail revenue for August totaled $82,851. LUS Fiber also had $186,350.75 in wholesale revenue, bringing total operating revenue to $269,201.75 for the month. The August numbers follow July's 31 percent retail revenue increase.

August's net operating revenue (before depreciation and amortization) was negative $574,522.58. This was up from July's net operating loss of $494,539.56.