Amherst Communications moving to 100% employee ownership

AMHERST — Amherst Communications, a 122-year-old telecommunications provider serving Central Wisconsin, announced Monday it will transition to full employee ownership through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

The move marks a major shift for the company, formerly known as Amherst Telephone Company, which has remained in the Iverson, Bohman and Danielson families for generations. Company leaders said the decision came after developing a succession plan that would preserve its local roots.

“Being 100 percent employee-owned means more than paperwork or stock,” CEO Ray Tetzloff said. “We take pride not just in doing our jobs, but in knowing we own the outcome.”

The transition is pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission. While the review timeline is uncertain, the company hopes to finalize the process by the end of the year. Tetzloff said he does not anticipate issues that would delay approval.

Company officials said the change will preserve Amherst Communications’ longstanding values of integrity, service, and community, while giving employees a larger stake in the company’s future. They said customers should expect the same level of service during and after the transition.

“We want everyone to know, this isn’t the end of Amherst Telephone Company’s story — it’s the start of an exciting next chapter,” Tetzloff said.

Founded in 1903, Amherst Communications provides internet, phone, and television services to customers across Portage, Adams, Waushara, and western Waupaca counties.

The company has expanded its fiber-optic network in recent years, investing in high-speed infrastructure across rural parts of the region.

As seen in MetroWire and written by Patrick Lynn