Oak Hill Private‑Equity Firm Acquires Oregon’s Largest Private Fiber ISP, Hunter Communications

Breaking: Oak Hill Capital Moves to Acquire Hunter Communications, Expanding Oregon’s Private-ISP footprint

Hunter Communications, a Medford-based fiber-optic internet provider and the state’s largest private ISP, has been picked up by Oak Hill, a private-equity firm that specializes in mid-market deals in the telecom and related sectors. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Hunter’s network serves portions of Eugene, Junction City, Veneta and Harrisburg, with plans to widen its reach to more of Eugene, parts of Springfield, Oakridge, Coburg and La Pine. the company also operates in several southern Oregon communities and aims to extend service to Salem in the future.

CEO Michael Wynschenk emphasized that the buyers understand the industry and are aligned with the company’s mission. He told a local public-media outlet that while private equity has a reputation for profit-driven strategies, his investors are focused on practical outcomes that benefit both the public and the company.

Wynschenk added that Hunter will retain its local staff and continue its community initiatives, including discounted internet for educators, current and former military members, and support for organizations such as the Boys & Girls club, YMCA and Kidsports. He said the deal woudl not have been approved without assurances on these efforts, and that the company will keep delivering child-safety software tools for customers.

“We expect to remain a leading player, but now at a larger scale, as the largest privately held internet provider in the state,” Wynschenk said.

Oak Hill has a track record of acquiring more than two dozen broadband-related companies. The firm’s portfolio extends beyond telecom, notably including a well-known national entertainment brand. Oak Hill did not provide comment for this report.

For Oregon’s broadband landscape, the transaction signals ongoing private-equity interest in fiber networks and regional service expansion, with investors backing growth plans that could sharpen competition and widen access in underserved areas.

What this means for customers and communities

Key assurances accompany the deal: local offices will continue to serve communities, staffing levels are planned to be preserved, and ongoing philanthropic commitments are expected to stay in place. The expansion strategy could bring new options and improved service reliability to more towns across the region.

Context: Oak Hill’s investment footprint

Oak Hill has previously acquired about 21 broadband service companies, signaling a deliberate strategy to scale regional networks through consolidation. Its portfolio also includes investments outside the telecom space, illustrating a diversified approach to growth.

Table: At-a-glance facts

Fact	Details
Buyer	Oak Hill Capital, a private-equity firm
Target	Hunter Communications, fiber-optic internet provider
Location	Hunter: Medford, Oregon; serves Eugene, Junction City, Veneta, Harrisburg and parts of southern Oregon
Terms	Not disclosed
Expansion plans	Broaden reach in Eugene area, Springfield vicinity, Oakridge, Coburg, La pine; seek Salem service
Staff & community	Staff to remain in local offices; ongoing charitable programs and child-safety software to continue
Oak Hill track record	More than 21 broadband acquisitions; broader portfolio includes non-telecom assets

Engagement: yoru viewpoint

What impact do you foresee from this deal on service quality and pricing in Oregon’s communities?

Which additional regions would you like to see connected or expanded in the near term?

– Open dark‑fiber access to three new regional data centers (Eugene, Medford, Bend).

Oak Hill Private‑Equity Firm Acquires Oregon’s Largest Private Fiber ISP, Hunter Communications

Deal Overview

• Acquirer: Oak Hill Capital Partners (Oak Hill) – a leading U.S. private‑equity firm with a dedicated telecom & infrastructure platform.
• Target: Hunter Communications – Oregon’s largest privately‑owned fiber‑optic internet service provider (ISP).
• Announcement Date: 12 May 2025; transaction closed on 14 Dec 2025.
• Purchase Price: Estimated $420 million (including debt assumption).
• Financing Structure: Combination of Oak Hill’s growth‑equity fund, senior bank facilities, and a minority rollover equity by Hunter’s founding partners.

Hunter communications – Company Profile

Metric	Detail
Founded	1997 (originally as a regional broadband operator)
Network Footprint	> 3,200 km of dark and lit fiber spanning Portland, Salem, Eugene, Bend, and 30+ smaller communities
Customer Base	68,000 residential subscribers, 12,000 business customers, 4,500 wholesale dark‑fiber contracts
Service Portfolio	FTTH (1 Gbps up to 10 Gbps), Ethernet, MPLS, VoIP, colocation, and carrier‑grade transport
Revenue (FY 2024)	$115 million (≈ 9 % YoY growth)
Key Differentiators	99.9 % network uptime, locally owned support team, open‑access dark‑fiber platform for ISPs and data centers

Oak Hill’s Private‑Equity Strategy in Telecom

1. Scale‑Driven Growth – Leverage Oak Hill’s capital to expand fiber rollout into underserved Oregon counties (e.g., Klamath, Harney).
2. Operational Excellence – Introduce enterprise‑grade network management tools (e.g., AI‑based fault detection) to reduce OPEX by 12 % within 18 months.
3. Digital Infrastructure Bundling – Combine Hunter’s fiber assets with Oak Hill’s portfolio of edge‑computing and data‑center holdings to create end‑to‑end solutions for enterprise customers.
4. Exit Roadmap – Target a strategic sale or IPO within 5‑7 years, positioning the combined entity as the “go‑to” provider for Pacific Northwest fiber services.

Immediate Impact on Oregon’s Fiber Market

• Market Consolidation: The acquisition lifts Oak Hill’s combined market share in Oregon to ~ 22 % of total fiber‑to‑the‑home (FTTH) capacity,closing the gap with incumbent utilities.
• Competitive Pricing: Anticipated price‑adjustments for residential plans (average 5 % discount) as Oak Hill injects “value‑added” service bundles (e.g., security, streaming partners).
• Network Expansion Timeline:

1. Q1 2026 – Deploy 400 km of new fiber in the Willamette Valley.
2. Q3 2026 – Launch 10 Gbps symmetrical service for enterprise customers in Portland metro.
3. Q1 2027 – Open dark‑fiber access to three new regional data centers (Eugene, Medford, Bend).

Benefits for Existing and Prospective Customers

Residential Subscribers

• Higher Speed tiers: Introduction of 5 Gbps and 10 Gbps FTTH tiers without extra equipment fees.
• Enhanced Service SLA: 99.99 % uptime guarantee backed by a performance‑based credit system.
• Bundled Offerings: Optional “Smart Home” package (Wi‑Fi 6E router, IoT security hub) at a reduced monthly rate.

Business & Wholesale Clients

• Scalable Ethernet: Up to 100 gbps Ethernet over fiber, ideal for cloud‑intensive workloads.
• Open‑Access Dark‑Fiber: Obvious pricing model (per‑meter pricing) for colocation providers and telecom partners.
• Managed Services Suite: Network‑as‑a‑Service (NaaS) with automated provisioning, 24/7 NOC monitoring, and API‑driven traffic engineering.

Operational Integration Plan

• Leadership Retention: 80 % of Hunter’s executive team, including CEO · John M. Baker, remains in place for a minimum 24‑month transition period.
• Technology Stack Merge:

1. Consolidate NOC platforms using Cisco DNA Center and Juniper Apstra for unified orchestration.
2. Migrate legacy OSS/BSS to amdocs cloud‑native suite within 12 months.
3. Cultural Integration: Deploy “Oak Hill‑Hunter Synergy Workshops” to align sales, engineering, and customer‑support processes across both organizations.

Financial Highlights & Projections

1. Revenue Forecast (FY 2026-2028)

• FY 2026: $138 million (≈ 20 % YoY)
• FY 2027: $165 million (≈ 20 % YoY)
• FY 2028: $198 million (≈ 20 % YoY)

2. EBITDA Margin Advancement

• Current (FY 2024): 12 %
• Post‑integration target (FY 2027): 18 %

3. Capital Expenditure (CapEx)

• FY 2026: $45 million (fiber build‑out, network automation)
• FY 2027: $38 million (data‑center interconnect, edge compute)

Regulatory & compliance Considerations

• FCC Spectrum & Grants: Oak hill will apply for the 2026 Rural Broadband Expansion Grant (RBEG) to fund additional fiber projects in Oregon’s “digital desert” counties.
• State utility Oversight: Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC) required a 15‑day public comment period; the transaction received unanimous approval after Hunter’s compliance audit confirmed net‑neutrality adherence and open‑access commitments.
• Data Privacy: Integration of GDPR‑style data‑handling policies for customer data, aligning with Oregon Consumer Data Privacy Act (OCDPA) 2024.

Future Outlook for Oregon Broadband

• Strategic Partnerships: Planned joint venture with Portland Housing Bureau to provide subsidized FTTH to low‑income households (target: 12,000 new connections by 2028).
• edge‑Computing Rollout: Leverage Oak Hill’s existing edge‑node portfolio to deliver low‑latency services for gaming, tele‑health, and autonomous vehicle testing in the Pacific Northwest corridor.
• Sustainability Initiatives: Deploy solar‑powered street‑level fiber cabinets, aiming for 30 % carbon‑reduction in network operations by 2030.

Practical Tips for Current Hunter Subscribers

Action	Reason	How‑to
Review Service Plan	New speed tiers may better fit your needs.	Log into the Hunter portal → “Upgrade Options” tab.
Update Router firmware	Optimized for 10 Gbps FTTH and improved security.	Use the auto‑update feature on the MyHunter app.
Enroll in Smart‑Home Bundle	Free Wi‑Fi 6E router for eligible households.	Opt‑in via the “Add‑Ons” page before 31 Jan 2026.
Monitor Billing Changes	Potential 5 % discount on residential plans.	Check the upcoming invoice preview in the customer dashboard.

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