Unalaska, AK – Local telephone provider TelAlaska has been purchased by American Broadband, a North Carolina-based company that owns and operates phone, internet, and cable providers in rural Missouri, Nebraska, and now, Alaska. The shift in ownership became official last month and TelAlaska CEO Brenda Shepard says it should not affect local operation of the company.

"They have a standing policy," she says. "They keep the local company intact with the current employees. They like to maintain that community involvement."

American Broadband acquires companies but does not locally manage them.

Shepard says Jack Rhyner started TelAlaska in the late 1960s and, before recently passing away, decided it was best for the business to be associated with a larger company.

American Broadband has "better access to more capital for investment purposes. And they also have other resources that we can draw upon within the industry, like technical expertise," says Shepard.

TelAlaska is working to increase the satellite capacity in Unalaska to provide faster internet service by the end of the year. TelAlaska also provides local services in Nome and Seward.