Charlotte, NC, July 4, 2008: American Broadband ( ABB ) has completed its purchase of TelAlaska, Inc. and its affiliated operations serving more than 12,500 local exchange customers and 1,800 cable customers in central Alaska and the Aleutian chain of islands on the southwestern tip of the state.
“We are proud that the Rhyner family and TelAlaska’s employee profit sharing plan trustees have entrusted the future of their business to the American Broadband team,” said Pat Eudy, ABB President and CEO. “TelAlaska’s motto, ‘Of Course You Can’ speaks to the dedication of the employees to ensure residents of rural Alaska have access to high quality voice, data and video services.”
The Rhyner family has been committed to bringing modern telecommunications services to some of the most remote regions of our country for some 40 years. And since Jack Rhyner’s untimely passing, his wife Donna Rhyner, Chief Information Officer and Chairman has insured that the transition continued as smoothly as possible.
Brenda Shepard, Chief Financial Officer has been appointed Chief Executive Officer effective with the close. Brenda has been a part of the Alaska telecommunications community for 30 years and a member of the TelAlaska team since 1999.
TelAlaska is the third largest independent telephone company in the state serving the Nome, Seward and Dutch Harbor areas as well as 20 other remote locations.