Hawaiian Telcom

Infobox_Company
company_name = Hawaiian Telcom Communications, Inc.
company_
company_type = Private| company_slogan =
foundation = 1883
location = Honolulu, HI, USA
key_people = Eric Yeaman, CEO
num_employees =
industry = Communications Services
products = Broadband Internet services, Local wireline services
employees = 1,700
parent = GTE (until 2000)
Verizon (2000-2005)
The Carlyle Group (2005-present)
operating_income =
net_income =
homepage = [http://www.hawaiiantel.com www.hawaiiantel.com]

Hawaiian Telcom is the incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) or dominant local telephone company, serving the state of Hawaii. It was formed in 2005 by The Carlyle Group, following its purchase of the Hawaii assets of Verizon Communications, which was known as Verizon Hawaii, Inc., and previously as GTE Hawaiian Telephone Company, Inc. and Hawaiian Telephone Company.

Hawaiian Telcom provides local phone, long distance, internet services (dial-up and DSL), and is a directory publisher and mobile virtual network operator using leased capacity provided by Sprint and Verizon Wireless's CDMA networks. Verizon Wireless's Hawaii operations were not included in the deal, and Verizon Wireless continues to operate in Hawaii as before the divestiture.

Carlyle's purchase of Verizon Hawaii was quite controversial with the public and competitive local exchange carriers, Time Warner Telecom and Pacific LightNet, who had doubts about the Carlyle's lack of experience operating telecommunication businesses, and their intentions as to raising rates, upgrading the network with optical fiber as former-parent Verizon was doing on the mainland, and possible resale of the business in just a few years, all seen as being detrimental to the public interest. [cite web | url = http://starbulletin.com/2004/10/06/news/story6.html | title = Union supports Verizon suitor | work = Honolulu Star-Bulletin | accessdate = 2004-10-10 | date = 2004-10-06 | last = Martin | first = Dan]

Since breaking off from Verizon in April 2005, the company has been overcoming difficulties transitioning to its own systems. Issues ranged from extremely long hold times to speak to representatives, to duplicate and delayed bills. In February 2007, the company announced that it had reached a settlement with its original systems consultant, BearingPoint, and had hired a new contractor, Accenture, to complete the transition to the new systems. [cite web | url = http://starbulletin.com/2007/02/09/business/story01.html | title = Hawaiian Telcom hires new help | work = Honolulu Star-Bulletin | accessdate = 2007-02-09 | date = 2007-02-09 | last = Wu | first = Nina]

Hawaiian Telcom announced on February 4, 2008, that it was replacing CEO Michael Ruley with turnaround expert Stephen F. Cooper, chairman of Kroll Zolfo Cooper. Cooper's previous management engagements include Enron and Krispy Kreme. [cite web | url = http://starbulletin.com/2008/02/05/news/story03.html | title = Hawaiian Telcom ousts CEO | work = Honolulu Star-Bulletin | accessdate = 2008-02-05 | date = 2008-02-05 | last = Consillio | first = Kristen]

On May 8, 2008, the company named Eric Yeaman as its new CEO, succeeding interim CEO Cooper. Yeaman previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Hawaiian Electric Co., the electric utility serving the island of Oahu. The company also announced that Walter Dods, former president of First Hawaiian Bank and one of several local investors in Hawaiian Telcom, was assuming the role of Chairman of the Board. [cite web | url = http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/05/05/daily56.html | title = HECO executive named president of Hawaiian Telcom | work = Pacific Business News | accessdate = 2008-05-08 | date = 2008-05-08]

References