News
Schurz Communications has moved to consolidate a network of half a dozen regional fiber broadband providers.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Schurz Communications, a family-owned firm with roots in newspaper publishing and broadcasting, today announced the launch of a new division called Schurz Broadband Group (SBG) to consolidate its network of regional fiber broadband providers.
According to Schurz Communications, the creation of SBG aims to unify resources and boost innovation, fiber expansion, and digital access while allowing each operating company to retain its local brand identity and community connections.
Overall, SBG will encompass six regional internet providers, including Antietam Broadband in Maryland, Burlington Telecom in Vermont, Hiawatha Broadband in Minnesota, Long Lines Broadband covering Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota, NKTelco in Ohio, and Orbitel Communications in Arizona.
Schurz Communications said each provider will continue to operate independently with its established local leadership and branding but will share strategic support, technology leadership, and infrastructure integration under the SBG umbrella.
The company also claims the new structure balances fiber-driven innovation with community-focused economic development.
Contextually, the launch follows Schurz’s prior expansion moves, such as the acquisition of Ohio-based NKTelco, which was incorporated as part of the company’s portfolio to extend its fiber reach in West Central Ohio. NKTelco continues to operate under its original brand, a practice Schurz has maintained with all acquisitions to preserve community trust. Antietam Broadband’s ongoing expansion of its Flight Fiber network across Maryland further illustrates the strategic focus on fiber infrastructure that underpins SBG’s mission.
The leadership appointments for SBG include Diego Anderson as president, responsible for strategy and performance, Jim Kronenbusch as CTO, overseeing technology and network scalability, and Sheryl S. Rosen as CMO tasked with brand strategy and customer retention.
‘Always with the customer at the center’
Speaking about the formation, Kronenbusch emphasized the goal to deliver superior network performance with the customer as central, while Rosen highlighted the distinctive approach of preserving local brands while collaborating around a shared product suite called Flight, introduced initially by Antietam Broadband.
“We have the platform to bring the best of what each company has built into a stronger, smarter, faster network of ideas and infrastructure,” said Kronenbusch. “Our goal is to deliver unmatched innovative performance and reliability—always with the customer at the center.”
Schurz Communications asserts that by leveraging SBG’s shared resources and unified strategic direction, its regional companies can accelerate fiber deployment and digital service innovation more effectively than if each operated entirely independently.
The company’s July 30 release also positioned the move as a forward-looking step to enhance customer experience and economic development in the communities served.
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