Empire Access

A publically traded private equity firm based in France has acquired a portion of Empire Access, a Prattsburgh-based broadband company that provides Internet and TV service to several WNY communities, including Batavia and Le Roy.

It's unclear from the news release how much of a stake in the company Antin Infrastructure Partners acquired.

The release stated that the Wagner family, which has controlled Empire since 1946, will retain an ownership stake in the company and Brian Wagner will remain on the company’s board of directors. Jim Baase, Empire’s COO, will become CEO.

Antin's stock is traded in the European Union and the company reported more than $48 million in revenue last year and has more than $23 billion in assets.

Founded in 1896 in Prattsburgh, New York, Empire offers high-speed FTTP ("fiber to the premises") internet, voice, and digital TV services.

The company reportedly manages a network of 1,280 fiber route miles servicing more than 92,000 addresses and 24,000 customers.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in late 2022, subject to obtaining regulatory approvals.

“Empire is one of the preeminent FTTP providers in the regions we serve and the Empire-Antin partnership will enable us to grow more quickly," said Baase, quoted in the release. "With still a substantial opportunity ahead, we are excited to partner with Antin to help secure that future growth and provide high-speed broadband access to consumers across our footprint.”

Kevin Genieser, Senior Partner at Antin, promised growth for Empire with his company's investment. 

"Empire is uniquely positioned to leverage its expansive fiber network to provide broadband services to underserved parts of New York and Pennsylvania," Genieser said.

Citizens, CIT (a division of First Citizens Bank), and Webster Bank acted as lead arrangers on the debt financing for the transaction.

Press release:

Empire Access announced today that it has been named Fastest Internet Provider in the United States for 2021 by PC Mag, beating out national and regional internet providers.

The PC Mag Fastest ISPs 2021 award is presented to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the United States that offer the fastest internet speeds to their customers. To compare ISPs, PC Mag uses a Speed Index score.

This score measures download and upload speeds in megabits per second and averages the download and upload together to come up with the PCMag Speed Index (PSI). This scoring system compares service providers nationwide. Higher Speed Index scores represent faster internet service. For the entire United States, Empire Access led all ISPs with a score of 366.2, while its closest competition, Google Fiber, scored 300.3.

“We’re honored to be ranked number one in the nation for the fastest Internet speed,” said Jim Baase, COO of Empire Access. “We take great pride in providing our customers with fast, reliable fiber optic internet service.”

The complete PC Mag article and test results can be found here.

Empire Access is a fast-growing fiber optic telecommunication service provider, offering high-speed internet, digital television, phone and security services to homes and businesses -- all enabled by fiber optic technology -- to more than 25 communities in Upstate New York and Northern Pennsylvania.

Fiber optic service is far more reliable and not prone to slow downs plagued by cable. Each customer has their own dedicated, non-blocking connection and is not affected by congestion and weather. Empire Access offers internet download speeds up to 1 Gbps (Gigabit per second) for highly demanding needs. Gigabit internet is perfect for video streaming, gaming, and downloading large files.

Along with fiber optic-based internet service, Empire also offers a complete array of communications and security services:

• Home and business phone service – including various plans with business options for toll-free numbers, phone systems, voice mail and more;
• TV Service – delivering 100-percent digital picture quality, crystal clear HD channels, Restart TV, Whole Home DVR capabilities and additional features;
• Security and home automation – such as 24/7 video monitoring and in-home or business-based automation, the ability to remotely manage security, lock and unlock doors, control appliances, adjust heating/cooling and more from a smartphone, tablet, or computer;
• Advanced business services – enterprise Wi-Fi, business email, audio and video conferencing, dark fiber and metro ethernet.

For more information or to speak with an Empire Access Fiber Optic expert, please call 1-800-338-3300 or visit www.empireaccess.com.

Empire Access, a service provider for many customers in Batavia is experiencing a service outage that seems to be affecting more than just local customers.

The outage has also been reported in Elmira.

The company issued the following statement on Twitter.

Internet service update - we’re currently experiencing an internet service interruption, which may effect your connection. Our technicians are working to restore service. We apologize for the inconvenience.

— Empire Access (@EmpireAccess) May 18, 2021

We've attempted to reach a company spokesman for more information and have not yet received a response.

UPDATE 12:58 p.m.: Service has been restored, per Empire Access.

Internet service is now restored. If you are still experiencing issues with connecting to the Internet, please call our office at 800-338-3300.

Press release:

Today, Empire Access announced its participation in the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program. This temporary benefit will help to lower the cost of broadband internet service for eligible households during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The $3.2B Emergency Broadband Benefit program provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband internet service for eligible households. Having a broadband connection is essential for households to gain access to jobs, healthcare services, virtual classrooms, and so much more.

“This program provides the much needed financial relief for families during these challenging times,” said Jim Baase, chief operating officer for Empire Access. “Our customers will still receive the same great speeds and high-quality service under the FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit program.”

A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:

• Has an income that is at or below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid or the FCC’s Lifeline program;
• Approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year;
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
• Experienced a substantial loss of income through job loss or furlough since Feb. 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

Emergency Broadband Benefit enrollment will begin (open) today, May 12. For more information on eligibility and enrollment, contact Empire Access at (800) 338-3300 or visit www.empireaccess.com/EBB

Press release:

Empire Access has extended their two months of free internet service through June 30 for families with students who do not currently have Empire internet.

Houesholds with K-12 and/or college students can sign up for two months of free Empire Access internet service with Wi-Fi. There are no contract required for this service and installation is free.

“We are committed to helping our local school districts and communities during these unprecedented times. Internet access plays an extremely vital role in education while schools are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Jim Baase, COO of Empire Access.

To sign up for this free Internet service, families can call (844) 502-7089. The Empire Access call center is open 24/7.

This service includes Empire Access standard Internet speeds and is available only in existing Empire Access service areas. After two months of free service, standard rates will apply.

Empire has also partnered with local school districts to provide Wi-Fi hotspots throughout communities for students to access.

Empire Access is part of a locally/family-owned and operated company; rooted from a telephone company founded in 1896. The organization has long been recognized for their knowledgeable, reliable and responsive service. Live customer support is available at all times.

Press release:

Empire Access announced today that the company is providing more than 25 TV channels at no additional charge to their TV customers. Empire TV customers who do not currently subscribe to select channels will have access for 30 days at no additional cost.

“Our company is pleased to announce this 30-day free preview," said Frank Pilling, vice president of Empire Access. "We understand many families are spending more time indoors due to the impact of the coronavirus, and it’s important to offer our customers extra TV programming options during this difficult time."

As part of the 30-day free preview, Empire Access is giving current TV cutomers access to channels that may not currently be included in their subscription. Free preview channels include:

SHOWTIME® -- Enjoy a free trial of premium channels from March 27 – April 25, complements of Showtime and Empire Access.

• On SHOWTIME® watch the final season of Homeland, plus other critically acclaimed original series like Billions® and Shameless.
• Get 30 days of Hallmark, Travel, DIY Network, Disney Junior, Disney XD, HDNET Movies, and many more.

Beginning today, Empire Access TV customers will automatically have access to the additional channels. For a complete list of the 30-day free preview channels, visit our website at www.empireaccess.com/freepreview or call our office at 1-800-338-3300.

Prattsburgh – Empire Access is now offering two months of free internet service to families with students who do not currently have internet at home.

Starting today, households with K-12 and/or college students can sign up for two months of free Empire Access Internet service with Wi-Fi. There are no contracts required for this service, and installation is free.

“As a locally owned and operated broadband company, we recognize the need for students to have internet access at home during their time away from school due to the impacts of the coronavirus," said Jim Baase, COO of Empire Access. "We are here for our communities, and ready to help families and students during this challenging time."

To sign up for this free internet service, families can call 844-502-7089. The Empire Access call center is open 24/7.

This service includes Empire Access standard internet speeds and is available only in existing Empire Access service areas. After two months of free service, standard rates will apply. 

Empire is also reaching out to local school districts to help ensure students without broadband service have the necessary internet access to continue their education.

Empire Access is part of a locally/family-owned and operated company; rooted from a telephone company founded in 1896. The organization has long been recognized for their knowledgeable, reliable and responsive service. Live customer support is available 24/7/365.

About Empire Access

After starting in 1896 with one telephone line in Prattsburgh, NY, Empire Access has grown significantly as a family-owned, locally based communications provider serving large areas of Upstate New York and Northern Pennsylvania. Today’s Empire offers a wide range of products and services from basic phone service to customized phone solutions, scalable high-speed Fiber Optic Internet, basic to enhanced digital TV service and advanced security solutions. Responding to a variety of business and consumer needs, Empire continues to expand into new areas while retaining a strong focus on local, personalized customer service.

Empire Access offers Fiber Optic service in Arkport, Batavia, Bath, Big Flats, Burdett, Canandaigua, Canisteo, Corning, Dansville, Elmira, Elmira Heights, Geneseo, Geneva, Hammondsport, Hornell, Le Roy, Montour Falls, Mount Morris, Naples, North Hornell, Odessa, Prattsburgh, Penn Yan, Victor, Warsaw, Watkins Glen, and Waverly in New York and Sayre, Athens, South Waverly and Troy in Pennsylvania. The company’s Website can be found here.

Officials at Empire Access are warning their customers that Spectrum sales reps may be using deceptive tactics to try and convince them to switch broadband and cable services.

Today, Marketing Director Bob R. VanDelinder released a video taken by a customer's front-porch video recorder that shows a man who looks like a Spectrum rep and represents himself as a Spectrum rep telling the customer that Spectrum is acquiring Empire Access.

"We thought this may be of interest since Empire Access did NOT sell to Spectrum, and has no plans of selling," VanDelinder said. "Our company is locally owned and operated, and deeply rooted in the communities we serve."

The rep tells the customer, "We just bought Empire, you know, so sooner or later you're going to be with us."

"So you're going to raise up your rates?" the customer asks in response. 

"No, we're just going to get everybody switched over, so whenever you're ready. The official switch-over is March, so sooner later you'll be on board with us or you'll be on satellite. Right now we're offering you a deal to get on board with us."

VanDelinder said his company has received two complaints, both involving the same rep at a location in the Southern Tier.

The Batavian attempted to reach a spokesperson for Spectrum this afternoon and we received no response.

UPDATE 9:43 p.m.: We apparently contacted the wrong Spectrum. We just received the following statement from a Spectrum spokesperson: "The content of the video is not accurate and we’re investigating these apparent comments by the sales representative."

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