Item 1A Risks Factors

The following discussion of risk factors contains forward-looking statements. These risk factors may be important to understanding other statements in this Form 10-K. The following information should be read in conjunction with Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Form 10-K.

The business, financial condition and operating results of the Company can be affected by several factors, whether currently known or unknown, including but not limited to those described below, any one or more of which could, directly or indirectly, cause the Company’s actual financial condition and operating results to vary materially from past, or from anticipated future, financial condition and operating results. Any of these factors, in whole or in part, could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results and stock price.

Because of the following factors, as well as other factors affecting the Company’s financial condition and operating results, past financial performance should not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and investors should not use historical trends to anticipate results or trends in future periods.

Risks Related to Our Business and Marketplace

If we are unable to renew lease agreements for the locations where our equipment is installed, our business could be harmed. We constructed our first wireless network in Columbus, Ohio to include the installation of our millimeter wave equipment on select rooftops and other structures (our Diamond Ring) pursuant to lease or license agreements designed to send and receive wireless signals necessary for the operation of the network. While we have tested this network, we have not yet launched it for daily commercial operations and have not yet built any other networks, although we are currently doing several cellular enhancement installations, and are building a private LTE network for Bexar County, Texas. Nevertheless, we would typically seek five-year initial terms for our leases with three to five year renewal options. Such renewal options are generally exercisable at our discretion before the expiration of the current term. If these leases are terminated or if the owners of these structures are unwilling to continue to enter into leases or licenses with us in the future, or breach those agreements with us, we would be forced to seek alternative arrangements with other building owners or providers. If we are unable to continue to obtain, retain or renew such leases on satisfactory terms, our business would be harmed.

We have a history of operating losses and expect to continue incurring losses for the foreseeable future. Our current business was launched in 2011 and has incurred losses in each year of operation. We cannot anticipate when, if ever, our operations will become profitable. We expect to incur significant net losses as we invest in our technology, expand our markets and pursue our business strategy. We intend to invest significantly in our business before we expect cash flow from operations to be adequate to cover our operating expenses. If we are unable to execute our business strategy and grow our business, either as a result of the risks identified in this section or for any other reason, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.

We are selling telecommunications equipment and services that are relatively new in our portfolio, and the revenue model for them is uncertain. We do not have extensive experience in pricing and billing in-building cellular and private LTE services, nor have we yet deployed LPN-16 with our networks or charged anyone for its capabilities. There is a risk that we may not price and bill sufficiently for our products and services to earn a profit, especially in the early stages of our sale and installation of them. We may continue to incur operating losses even as our sales and revenue increase.

Our Link Program was terminated, and we have liability with respect to the remaining outstanding Links. Through January 2016, Wytec had been relying primarily on the sale of registered links and related equipment and services (“Links”) through Wylink, Inc., our former wholly owned subsidiary which we dissolved in 2020, for revenue and working capital. Wylink terminated the offer and sale of Links in January 2016, except for two sales in July 2016. From June 2016 to December 2017, Wytec had been offering to buy back Links in consideration for the issuance of its Series B Preferred Stock and warrants at $3.00 per unit (i.e. one share of Series B Preferred Stock and one warrant exercisable at $1.50 per share until December 31, 2018). Subsequently, in 2018 and 2019, Wytec has been making exchange offers for Links by offering shares of common stock and warrants for them. As of December 31, 2020, we had repurchased all but 39 outstanding Links that currently remain with third party owners. Those outstanding Links include 22 that are activated and 17 that are not yet and may not be activated. We are generally retaining activated (“live”) Links that are repurchased by us and letting pending Links lapse for the present. Once Links were sold, Wytec incurred substantial costs to provide equipment and make related lease payments on activated Links. The Company has recently shifted its focus to in-building cellular and private LTE services, respectively, and to LPN-16. Consequently, the Company does not plan to sell, lease, use or activate any more Links. In fact, it plans to continue to try to repurchase them to give Linkholders a better opportunity to monetize their purchase of them and to strengthen the Company’s balance sheet by having holders exchange them for equity. We have recorded a current liability for “other payables” on our balance sheet for the remaining outstanding Links. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to retire the rest of the outstanding Links, or that it will not have claims asserted by Linkholders against it for forced activations and lease renewals or refunds.

Our success depends in part on the results of current and planned tests of our proprietary LPN-16 technology. Testing thus far has included environmental and radio frequency interference testing with our manufacturer and multiple speed tests utilizing an integrated 2.4GHz and 5GHz Qualcomm 802.11ac chipset which we completed in December of 2014. Additional tests will include proof of concept testing for network load balancing, public safety Band 14 and mobile network operator mobile data offloading, and WiFi and backhaul network testing. While we expect future tests of our LPN-16 to go well since preliminary testing of the technology in San Antonio, Texas was positive, the LPN-16 may not work as we have currently designed and constructed it, causing us material delays and harm. If the LPN-16 fails the upcoming tests or the tests are materially delayed, it could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, operating results, and business performance. The timing of the commencement of the launch of the LPN-16 product line is currently uncertain, and may be delayed until we have more capital to fund it. There is no assurance that our LPN-16 or any other proprietary technology that we develop will be successful, will work as planned, or can be commercialized or monetized profitably.

If the comprehensive testing to be conducted by the SwRI does not yield favorable results, the execution of our business plan could be delayed or otherwise adversely effected. We are planning to conduct comprehensive trials in the near future with SwRI to test the efficacy of the LPN-16, and while we expect good results with respect to transmission speed, capacity, latency, clarity, and related performance parameters, there is no assurance that the actual results will not be less than expected. There is no assurance as to the date on which the trials will be conducted and completed. The trials with satisfactory results are a necessary predicate to commercializing and deploying our LPN-16 small cell technology. There is no assurance as to the performance results that will be experienced in the upcoming trials. If the results are not satisfactory, we will be delayed in the execution of our business plan, our costs will rise as we make necessary adjustments to the prototypes, and our anticipated revenue will be reduced or delayed.

We must adapt quickly to changes in technology. Telecommunications technology is a rapidly evolving technology. We must keep abreast of this technological evolution. To do so, we must continually improve the performance, features and reliability of our equipment and related products. If we fail to maintain a competitive level of technological expertise, then we will not be able to compete in our market.

Our revenues are concentrated in a small number of customers and they may decrease significantly if we were to lose one of these customers. Two customers (i.e., Laredo ISD and Southwest Research Institute) generated approximately 92% of our revenue in the year ended December 31, 2020. Purchase orders aggregate under the Laredo ISD contract, but we believe that the selling opportunities are far more varied than suggested by the revenue associated with the Laredo ISD contract because many different ISDs are able to purchase our products and services through that contract without competitive bidding or other lengthy procedures. In that regard, we have preferred vendor status with the Central Texas Purchasing Alliance (“CTPA”) of which Laredo is a member, along with approximately 150 other school districts in Texas. Nevertheless, this high concentration of revenue from a single customer creates a risk that our revenue may decrease substantially if we were to lose this customer. We cannot assure you that our current main customer will continue to purchase our products and services in the future.

Our inability to respond timely to technological advances could have an adverse effect on our business. We must be able to respond to technological advances and emerging industry standards and practices on a cost-effective and timely basis. We can offer no assurance that we will be able to successfully use new technologies effectively or adapt our products and services in a timely manner to a competitive standard. If we are unable to adapt in a timely manner to changing technology, market conditions or customer requirements, then we may not be able to successfully compete in our market.

Our ability to protect our intellectual property is uncertain. We assigned our five Patents to our former subsidiary, Wytec, LLC, which was then managed and 50% owned by General Patent Corporation. General Patent Corporation (“GPC”), the oldest patent enforcement firm in the United States, represents clients on patent enforcement rights and licensing transactions on a contingency basis. GPC was the manager of Wytec, LLC until 2017, when it assigned all of its rights in Wytec, LLC back to us. After extensive research and analysis, GPC elected not to assert infringement claims for the Patents on behalf of us and itself through Wytec, LLC. All five previous patents prior to 2017 have expired. We re-acquired the 50% of Wytec, LLC that we did not already own, and became the manager of it. In 2014, we filed a new provisional patent application for our proprietary LPN-16 data transmission technology. We have applied for additional patents and may do so in the future. On October 31, 2017, we received our first patent on the LPN-16 (patent number 9,807,032). In December of 2020, Wytec was granted a second patent (patent number 10868775 B2), for our additional claims to our original 2017 patent.. There is no assurance that this patent or any other patent that may be granted to us, if any, in the future will be enforceable. We will have limited resources to fight any infringements on our proprietary rights and if we are unable to protect our proprietary rights or if such rights infringe on the rights of others, our business would be materially adversely affected. The current manufacturer of our LPN-16 owns the intellectual property rights to certain software used in the device, for which our license is only exclusive for the first three years of sales, after which it is nonexclusive in perpetuity. This arrangement may enable our competitors to enter the market more readily for this type of equipment.

Our business may be adversely affected by competition. The telecommunications industry is highly competitive. Many of our current and potential competitors have financial, personnel and other resources, including brand name recognition, substantially greater than ours, as well as other competitive advantages over us. Certain competitors may be able to secure products from vendors on more favorable terms, devote greater resources to marketing and promotional campaigns, and adopt more aggressive pricing than we will. We cannot assure that we will be able to compete successfully against these competitors, which ultimately may have a materially adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and potential products in the future.

Our business is subject to government regulation. Aspects of our telecommunication business are subject to and designed to comply with the regulations of the FCC. A change in those regulations or significant diminution of the right to access, use or license of the spectrum that we seek may have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition, and business prospects and performance. We are also subject to regulations applicable to businesses generally, including without limitation those governing employment, construction, permit requirements, the environment, and health and safety, those governing the telecommunications industry, and the FCC. The adoption of any additional laws or regulations may decrease the growth of our business, decrease the demand for services and increase our cost of doing business. Changes in tax laws also could have a significant adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.

We cannot assure that we will achieve profitability. We cannot assure that we will be able to operate profitably in the future. Profitability, if any, will depend in part upon our ability to successfully develop and market our proprietary telecommunications technology, and other products and services. We may not be able to successfully transition from our current stage of business to a stabilized operation having sufficient revenues to cover expenses. While attempting to make this transition, we will be subject to all the risks inherent in a small business, including the need to adequately service and expand our customer base and to maintain and enhance our current services.

We are exposed to various possible claims relating to our business and we may not have sufficient insurance to fully protect us. We cannot assure that we will not incur uninsured liabilities and losses because of the conduct of our business, even though we currently maintain insurance policies for liability and property insurance coverage, along with workmen’s compensation and related insurance. Should uninsured losses occur, our investors could lose their invested capital.

We may incur additional indebtedness. We cannot assure that we will not incur additional debt in the future, that we will have sufficient funds to repay our indebtedness or that we will not default on our debt, jeopardizing our business viability. Furthermore, we may not be able to borrow or raise additional capital in the future to meet our needs or to otherwise provide the capital necessary to conduct our business. We are currently conducting an offering of promissory notes and warrants seeking to raise up to $5,000,000 of additional capital. To date, we have sold $625,000 of the promissory notes and warrants to one accredited investor.

We expect to incur losses for the near future. We project that we will incur development and administrative expenses and operate at a loss for the foreseeable future unless we are able to generate substantial revenues from our existing and planned proprietary products and services. We cannot be certain whether or when we will be able to achieve profitability because of the significant uncertainties with respect to our business.

We may incur cost overruns. We may incur substantial cost overruns in the development and deployment of our proprietary products and services. Management is not obligated to contribute capital to us. Unanticipated costs may force us to obtain additional capital or financing from other sources or may cause us to lose our entire investment in our business if we are unable to obtain the additional funds necessary to implement our business plan. We cannot assure that we will be able to obtain sufficient capital to successfully implement our business plan. If a greater investment is required in the business because of cost overruns, the probability of earning a profit or a return on investment in us is diminished.

We could be subject to liens. If we fail to pay for materials and services for our business on a timely basis, our assets could be subject to material men’s and workmen’s liens. We may also be subject to bank liens in the event that we default on loans from banks, if any.

We may face litigation in the future. We may incur substantial legal fees and costs in connection with future litigation, if any. The Company carries Officers’ and Directors’ liability insurance, as well as other forms of insurance customarily carried by companies such as Wytec, but there is no assurance that our insurance policies will be adequate to cover all of our litigation costs. There is also a risk that we could face litigation and regulatory claims that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, operating results, and business. For example, a former Linkholder and current Series B Preferred Stockholder of the Company has requested a refund of his payments to Wytec. While the Company does not believe that this individual is entitled to a refund, the Company has been amenable to refunding him, but not in excess of the amount he paid for his Links, which he previously exchanged for the Series B Preferred Stock that he currently owns. If this individual does not accept the Company’s offer and commences litigation or the Company becomes involved in other litigation, there could be a material adverse effect on the Company.

We may not have adequate funds to implement our business plan. We have limited capital available to us. Although we anticipate securing additional funding from the issuance of additional securities, we cannot assure that we will secure all or any of the funding we anticipate. If our entire original capital is fully expended and additional costs cannot be funded from borrowings or capital from other sources, then our financial condition, results of operations and business performance would be materially adversely affected. We cannot assure that we will have adequate capital or financing to conduct our business or to grow.

Our limited resources may prevent us from retaining key employees or inhibit our ability to hire and train a sufficient number of qualified management, professional, technical and regulatory personnel. Our success may also depend on our ability to attract and retain other qualified management and personnel familiar in telecommunications industry. Currently, we have a limited number of personnel that are required to perform various roles and duties as a result of our limited financial resources. We intend to use the services of independent consultants and contractors to perform various professional services, when appropriate to help conserve our capital. If and when we determine to acquire additional personnel, we will compete for such persons with other companies and other organizations, some of which have substantially greater capital resources than we do. We cannot provide any assurance that we will be successful in recruiting or retaining personnel of the requisite caliber or in adequate numbers to enable us to conduct our business.

The loss of the services of any or our management or key executives could adversely affect our business. Our success is substantially dependent on the performance of our executive officers and key employees. The loss of an officer or director could have a material adverse impact on us. We are generally dependent upon our primary executive officer, William H. Gray, for the direction, management and daily supervision of our operations. We do not currently have any employment agreements with any members of our management team.

The consideration being paid to management has not been determined at arm’s-length. The common stock and cash consideration being paid by us to our management have not been determined based on arm’s-length negotiation. We may grant stock options and other equity incentives to our executive officers and directors, which may further dilute our shareholders’ ownership of us. While management believes that the consideration is fair for the work being performed, there is no assurance that the consideration to management reflects the true market value of its services.

Directors and officers have limited liability. As permitted by the Nevada General Corporation Law, our certificate of incorporation and by-laws limit the personal liability of our directors and officers and authorize our indemnification of them, but such provision does not eliminate or limit the liability of a director or officer in certain circumstances, such as for: (i) any breach of the director’s or officer’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) under Section 174 of the Nevada General Corporate Law; or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If we were called upon to perform under our indemnification agreement, then the portion of our assets expended for such purpose would reduce the amount otherwise available for our business.

Global and regional economic conditions could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition and growth. Adverse macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, slower growth, or recession, new or increased tariffs, changes to fiscal and monetary policy, tighter credit, higher interest rates, high unemployment and currency fluctuations could materially adversely affect demand for the Company’s products and services. In addition, consumer confidence and spending could be adversely affected in response to financial market volatility, negative financial news, conditions in the real estate and mortgage markets, declines in income or asset values, changes to fuel and other energy costs, labor and healthcare costs and other economic factors.

In addition to an adverse impact on demand for the Company’s products, uncertainty about, or a decline in, global or regional economic conditions could have a significant impact on the Company’s suppliers, contract manufacturers, logistics providers, distributors, cellular network carriers and other channel partners. Potential effects include financial instability; inability to obtain credit to finance operations and purchases of the Company’s products; and insolvency.

A downturn in the economic environment could also lead to increased credit and collectability risk on the Company’s trade receivables; the failure of derivative counterparties and other financial institutions; limitations on the Company’s liquidity, which is currently minimal; and declines in the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments. These and other economic factors could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition and growth.

The Company’s ability to compete successfully depends heavily on its ability to ensure a continuing and timely introduction of innovative new products, services and technologies to the marketplace.

The Company could be subject to changes in its tax rates, the adoption of new U.S. or international tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities. The Company is subject to taxes in the U.S. Due to economic and political conditions, tax rates in various jurisdictions may be subject to significant change. The Company’s effective tax rates could be affected by changes in the mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory tax rates, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, or changes in tax laws or their interpretation. The Company is also subject to the examination of its tax returns and other tax matters by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities and governmental bodies. The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of an adverse outcome resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of its provision for taxes. There can be no assurance as to the outcome of these examinations. 

Impact of COVID-19 on Wytec’s business. Wytec expects delays in the commencement of its next installation with the Laredo, Texas school district because district staff has not been consistently available to coordinate the installation of the Company’s equipment at their schools as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company also expects that as state actions in response to COVID-19 continue to disrupt commerce at all levels of industry, the Company will experience delays in its supply chain. Although the Company is taking measures to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 on the Company’s business as much as possible, the Company is unable to predict the overall impact of the pandemic on the Company at this time.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

No market for our common stock currently exists, and an active trading market may not develop or be sustained. Our stock price may fluctuate significantly. There is currently no public market for our common stock. We intend to apply to have our common stock quoted and traded on the OTC-QX Market or the NASDAQ Capital Market. There is no assurance that the Company’s application for listing its common stock for trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market will be accepted. In order to have our common stock quoted for public trading on the OTC-QX Market, which is an over-the-counter market, not an exchange, we must have a market maker registered with FINRA to sponsor our application for a trading symbol for that over-the-counter market. There is no assurance that we will find a market maker to sponsor our common stock for public trading. An active trading market for our common stock may not develop or may not be sustained in the future. The lack of an active market may make it more difficult for stockholders to sell our shares and could lead to our share price and trading volume being depressed or volatile. We cannot predict the prices at which our common stock may trade. The market price of the common stock may fluctuate widely and decline, depending on many factors, some of which may be beyond our control.

The concentration of our capital voting stock ownership may limit our stockholders’ ability to influence corporate matters and may involve other risks. William H. Gray, our chief executive officer, is currently the beneficial owner of an aggregate (not subject to dilution) of approximately 51% of Wytec’s outstanding voting power. As a result of such stock ownership, Mr. Gray is able to exercise significant control over all matters requiring shareholder approval, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control and might adversely affect the market price of our common stock. This concentration of ownership may not be in the best interests of all of our shareholders.

Your percentage ownership in us may be diluted in the future. Our board of directors has the authority to cause us to issue additional securities and convertible securities at such prices and on such terms as it determines in its discretion without the consent of the stockholders, including without limitation common stock, preferred stock, warrants, stock options, and convertible notes. Consequently, our shareholders are subject to the risk that their ownership in us will be substantially diluted in the future.

We may not pay dividends in the future. Any return on investment may be limited to the value of our common stock. We do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The payment of dividends on our common stock will depend on earnings, financial condition, and other business and economic factors affecting us at such time as our board of directors may consider relevant. Our current intention is to apply net earnings, if any, in the foreseeable future to increasing our capital base and marketing. Prospective investors seeking or needing dividend income should therefore not purchase our common stock. If we do not pay dividends, our common stock may be less valuable because a return on investment will only occur if our stock price appreciates.

Offers or availability for sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock may cause the price of our common stock to decline. If our stockholders sell substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market if one ever develops, or upon the expiration of any statutory holding period under Rule 144 or issued upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants, it could create a circumstance commonly referred to as an “overhang”, in anticipation of which the market price of our common stock could fall. The existence of an overhang, whether or not sales have occurred or are occurring, also could make more difficult our ability to raise additional financing through the sale of equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem reasonable or appropriate.

Our stock price may be volatile. The market price of our common stock may be highly volatile and could fluctuate widely in price in response to various factors, many of which are beyond our control. In addition, the securities markets have from time-to-time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of our common stock in general.