Amerilink Corp – ‘10-K405’ for 3/30/97

As of:  Wednesday, 6/25/97   ·   For:  3/30/97   ·   Accession #:  912057-97-21836   ·   File #:  0-24334

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Annual Report — [x] Reg. S-K Item 405   —   Form 10-K
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: 10-K405     Form 10-K                                             35    187K 
 2: EX-10.10    Material Contract                                      3     19K 
 3: EX-11.1     Statement re: Computation of Earnings Per Share        2±     8K 
 4: EX-23.1     Consent of Experts or Counsel                          1      6K 
 5: EX-27       Exhibit 27 FDS                                         2      9K 

10-K405   —   Form 10-K
Document Table of Contents

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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 Washington,  D.C. 20549
 FORM 10-K
(Mark One)                                                                      
        [X]  ANNUAL  REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
      SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (Fee Required)
For the fiscal year ended March 30, 1997
OR
           [ ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (No Fee Required)
For the transition period from _______________ to ________________              

Commission file number   0-24334                                                
-------                       

 AMERILINK CORPORATION
 ---------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     Ohio                                     31-1409345
     ----                                     ----------
     (State or other jurisdiction of        (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)                                        

1900 E. Dublin - Granville Road,  Columbus,  Ohio            43229              
-------------------------------------------------            -----              
(Address of principal executive offices)                   (zip code)           

 Registrant's telephone number,  including area code: 614/895-1313
                                                      ------------

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:   None
                                                              ----

 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
    Common Shares with no par value           Nasdaq National Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act Of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was     
required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such filing        
requirements for the past 90 days.   Yes   X  .   No      .                     
                   -----       -----

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filer pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best  
of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements        
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. (X).                                                                 

Based upon the closing sale price reported on the NASDAQ National Market on May 
30, 1997, the aggregate market value of the Common Shares of the Registrant held
by non-affiliates (assuming, for this purpose, that all executive officers are  
affiliates) on that date was $9,073,313.                                        

 3,481,580 shares of common stock were outstanding on May 30, 1997

 DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

  1.   Portions of the registrants definitive proxy statement for its 1997
        Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference to Part
III of this report.                                         

  This report contains 40 pages of which this is page 1. The Exhibit Index
begins at page 35.                                                              

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AMERILINK CORPORATION 

 FORM 10-K

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

   Item                                                                     Page
   ----                                                                     ----

  PART I

    1    Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
    2    Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
    3    Legal Proceedings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
    4    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. . . . . . . . .9

 PART II

5    Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related                
              Stockholder Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
    6    Selected Financial Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
7    Management's Discussion and Analysis of  Financial Condition and 
              Results of Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
    8    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. . . . . . . . . . . . 18
9    Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and  
              Financial Disclosure  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

PART III

    10   Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant . . . . . . . . 31
    11   Executive Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
    12   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management . . 31
    13   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions . . . . . . . . . . 31

 PART IV

    14   Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K. . 32
         Signatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

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PART I

ITEM 1 BUSINESS.                                                                

GENERAL                                                                         

  AmeriLink Corporation (referred to herein, together with its subsidiary,
where the context requires, as the "Company") is a nationwide provider of       
cabling systems for the transmission of video, voice, and data.  AmeriLink      
Corporation was incorporated on December 15, 1993.  Prior to the consummation of
the Company's initial public offering in August, 1994, the business of the      
Company was conducted by AmeriLink Corp.  In conjunction with the public        
offering, the shareholders of AmeriLink Corp. received 13,500 shares of         
AmeriLink Corporation stock for each share of AmeriLink Corp. stock held, and   
the Company became the sole shareholder of AmeriLink Corp.  The Company, which  
conducts business under the trade name "NaCom", is headquartered in Columbus,   
Ohio and currently markets and provides its services through its corporate      
office and national network of field operations offices.  During the 1997 fiscal
year, these offices served customers in 44 states.                              

PRINCIPAL SERVICES                                                              

   AmeriLink Corporation operates principally in the single business segment
of designing, constructing, installing, and maintaining cabling systems for the 
transmission of video, voice, and data.  The Company provides these services on 
a national basis to providers of telecommunications services, including: major  
cable television multiple system operators ("MSOs"); traditional telephone      
service providers, including local exchange carriers ("LECs") and long distance 
carriers (collectively, "Telcos"); competitive local exchange carriers          
("CLECs"); Direct Broadcast Satellite ("DBS") providers; and system integrators 
and users of local area network ("LAN") systems.  The Telecommunications Act of 
1996, which was signed into law by the President in February 1996, allows       
telephone companies and cable companies to provide similar services across their
networks (subject to the conditions outlined in the act).  The Company provides 
the same cabling services to these industries and communication providers.      

 The Company's services include the construction and installation of the
outside physical cable plant ("outside plant construction services") and the    
drops to and wiring of residences and cable feeds to and wiring of multi family 
dwelling units and commercial buildings ("premises wiring services").           

     Outside plant construction services involve the installation of fiber optic
cable and coaxial cable for aerial and underground portions of cable systems.   
These services also include installation of all necessary electronic components,
including signal amplification and conversion devices and the performance of    
diagnostic engineering tests at all levels of the infrastructure to determine   
whether new and existing systems are within appropriate manufacturer or FCC     
specifications.  The Company uses heavy machinery, specialized trucks and other 
construction equipment to perform its outside plant construction services.  In  
fiscal 1997, the Company implemented a strategy to de-emphasize outside plant   
construction projects, especially the larger construction projects which require
more technical expertise and experienced construction project managers.  The    
Company believes that the competitive environment associated with this type of  
work, along with uncertainty regarding customer work commitments on these       
projects, make them less desirable in the near term than premises wiring cabling
projects.  Revenues from outside plant construction projects for fiscal 1997    
decreased approximately 49% to approximately $9.6 million, from approximately   
$18.8 million recorded in the previous fiscal year.                             

   Premises wiring services include the installation and maintenance of both
hardwire and wireless cable systems.  Installation services for hardwire cable  
systems include the installing of coaxial drops which connect residences to the 
feeder cable carrying the cable operator's signal, cabling the exterior and     
interior of multi and single family residences, and installing converter units  
within the residence.  Maintenance services include (1)                         

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the replacement of damaged or obsolete cable, (2) the reconnection and          
disconnection of subscriber services, (3) day-to-day additions and changes to   
installed drops, (4) upgrade sales and service changes, and (5) miscellaneous   
service calls.  Wireless cabling services include both installation and         
maintenance services for Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) systems or digital    
wireless cable systems (also known as digital MMDS or wireless cable).  DBS     
installation services consist of attaching an eighteen to twenty-four inch      
satellite dish to the subscriber's property, hooking up the digital set-top     
converter box, and installing the related cabling, grounding, and connective    
materials.  Maintenance services include the replacement of damaged cable,      
grounding and connective materials, and satellite receiving equipment.  Digital 
wireless cable system installations consist of attaching a microwave receiving  
antenna to the subscriber's property and installing the digital set-top         
converter and related cabling, grounding, and connective materials.             

    Premises wiring services also include the design and data cabling of Local
Area Network ("LAN") and Wide Area Network ("WAN") systems for commercial       
business, governments, and educational communities.  The Company's network      
cabling design services begin with an on location site survey to determine the  
most efficient cable routing path and the location of end user outlets.  The    
company may then utilize a CAD system to finalize a cabling plan that meets     
network requirements and performance specifications.  Once approved by the      
customer, a blueprint or other working print is generated which is used as a    
guide for the network installation.  The Company installs a variety of voice and
data cabling technologies including coaxial, fiber optic, and twisted pair      
wiring.  Upon completion of a network installation, the Company generally       
delivers to the customer test documentation and an as-built design layout.      

Premises wiring services are less capital intensive than outside plant
construction projects, but typically require a more sophisticated and           
technically proficient work force.  In fiscal 1997, the Company implemented a   
strategy of obtaining and performing more residential and commercial premises   
wiring projects.  The Company believes that these projects provide more         
financial opportunity due to the current competitive environment along with the 
Company's experience and expertise on these contracts.  Revenues derived from   
premises wiring services for fiscal 1997 increased 43% to approximately $53.4   
million from approximately $37.3 million in fiscal 1996.                        

CUSTOMERS                                                                       

CABLE TELEVISION COMPANIES.  The Company provides both outside plant  
construction and premises wiring services to regional and local cable operators,
most of which are owned by major MSOs, including Time Warner Cable              
(approximately 19% of revenues for the 1997 fiscal year).  Historically,        
broadband video networks in the United States were almost exclusively provided  
by cable television operators.  Accordingly, the Company had historically       
derived a large percentage of its revenues from this customer base.  The Company
has progressively reduced its dependence on cable television companies by       
diversifying its customer base to include other providers of telecommunication  
services.  The Company derived approximately 91%, 76%, and 51% of its revenues  
from cable television MSOs or MSO controlled companies (such as PrimeStar       
Partners, the DBS provider) for the fiscal years 1995, 1996 and 1997,           
respectively.                                                                   

     Cable operators generally contract for cabling services through their local
and regional offices.  As a result, the Company markets its cable television    
services in a decentralized manner.  The Company seeks to develop contacts and  
learn of potential opportunities through attendance at trade shows and by       
membership of its key managers and corporate personnel in the Society of Cable  
Television Engineers and local cable associations.  Field managers are          
responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with local and regional
cable operators.  The development and maintenance of customer relationships as  
well as the consistent performance of quality services allows the Company to    
gain repeat business.  The corporate office also periodically explores potential
target cities for possible expansion.  If the corporate office does decide to   
bid a contract and is awarded a project in a target city, the Company can then  
proceed to open a field office and staff it.                                    

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 In order to eliminate the ongoing expense and effort required to manage
labor intensive, multi-office service organizations, the cable television       
industry historically has sought to out-source a large portion of cabling       
services to independent contractors, such as the Company.  With regard to its   
premises wiring cabling services, the Company competes both with the in-house   
service organizations of cable companies and numerous regional and local        
competitors. There are many larger national and regional competitors that       
provide outside plant construction services to cable television MSOs.   Smaller 
regional and local competitors may be able to offer lower prices because of     
lower overhead expenses.  Because of the highly competitive bidding environment 
in recent years for cable service contracts, the price of the cable service     
contractor's bid has often been the deciding factor in determining whether such 
contractor was awarded a contract for a cabling project.  As the demand for     
cabling services increases, the Company believes that contracts will be awarded 
based on the combination of a contractor's price, its track record for          
completing projects, its ability to dedicate management and production personnel
to the project, and its financial and operational resources to complete the     
contract.                                                                       

  Currently, traditional cable television operators are facing competition
for video services from both DBS providers and local telephone companies.  In   
response to this competition, many cable television companies have announced    
plans to increase their capital spending in order to increase existing channel  
capacity  and to offer new services and next generation technologies.  Increased
capital spending by cable television companies should benefit the Company by    
increasing the demand for its cabling services.  There is no assurance, however,
that these capital spending plans will be implemented, or that the Company will 
be successful in obtaining such work if it does become available.               

   TELEPHONE COMPANIES.  Local telephone companies have begun competing with
cable television operators to offer video services in many markets in the United
States.  These companies are entering the video business by either building new 
hardwire or wireless cable systems or by buying existing cable companies outside
their service territories.                                                      

    To date, the Company has provided only premises wiring cabling services to
telephone companies and not outside plant construction services.  This is       
consistent with the Company's overall strategy of de-emphasizing outside plant  
construction projects.  For the fiscal year ended March 30, 1997, the Company   
recorded approximately $11.9 million in premises wiring revenues from telephone 
companies (including approximately $1.5 million from Continental Cablevision,   
which was acquired by MediaOne, a division of U.S. West Media Group).  This is  
an increase of approximately $9.9 million in revenues from the previous fiscal  
year ended March 31, 1996 (approximately $2.0 million).  The amount of future   
capital allocated by telephone companies to their video programs, and therefore,
the amount of work available to the Company, is largely contingent upon the     
financial success of these programs.  In addition, consolidation, acquisitions, 
or alliances by telephone companies could also delay or depress capital spending
for video programs.  Combining companies may assess new and different business  
plans and strategies and focus efforts on administrative and operational issues 
associated with their combinations.                                             

   Telephone companies are very centralized in their purchasing requirements
for video cabling services.  Telephone companies require cabling contractors to 
be qualified approved bidders and meet certain financial, technical,            
operational, and administrative prequalifications; therefore, they tend to use a
limited number of larger contractors.  During the 1997 fiscal year, the Company 
performed video installation services for U.S. West, G.T.E., Pacific Bell, and  
Ameritech.                                                                      

     NETWORK CUSTOMERS.  Since 1987, the Company has provided design and cabling
services of network systems for commercial businesses, governments, and         
educational communities.  Since the introduction of local and wide area computer
networks, this industry has grown rapidly and comprises a growing portion of the
overall communications market.  Company revenues derived from network cabling   
services have increased dramatically over the last three fiscal years, from     
approximately $4.3 million in fiscal 1995, to approximately $7.7 million in     
fiscal 1996, to approximately $13.8 million in fiscal 1997.                     

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     The Company provides network cabling services to both system integrators of
network systems and directly to the end users of the network.  System           
integrators such as UNISYS Corporation, IBM, and Lucent Technologies submit     
competitive bids for network systems to third party customers.  The Company will
submit a competitive bid to the integrator for the cabling portion of the       
overall proposal.  If the integrator is awarded the project, the Company will   
perform the required cabling services if its bid is accepted and bill the       
integrator.  In other projects, the end user bids directly to third party       
suppliers for network related services.  In this case, the Company submits a    
proposal directly to the end user.                                              

   The Company provides network cabling services through all of its national
field offices.  This capability provides customers with a single source for     
large regional or nationwide network installation projects.  For example, in    
February, 1996, the Company was awarded a contract through UNISYS Corporation to
provide network cabling services to over 5,000 Nationwide Insurance offices     
located in 26 states.                                                           

     The Company employs a combined corporate and regional approach to marketing
its network cabling services.  In 1992, the Company created a dedicated         
corporate sales and installation support group to identify and establish        
relationships with systems integrators that can provide an ongoing source of    
network cabling business in markets which the Company has field offices.  The   
Company augments this national sales effort with network sales engineers who    
market multi-state sales territories from key regional offices.                 

     DIRECT BROADCAST SATELLITE PROVIDERS.  Direct Broadcast Satellite providers
such as PrimeStar Partners ("PrimeStar") and DIRECTV currently offer customers  
up to 200 channels of high-quality digital video via satellite transmission to  
their home receivers.  The Company provides premises wiring installation and    
maintenance services to these DBS providers.  During the 1997 fiscal year, the  
Company recorded approximately $6.8 million in revenues from DBS companies.  Of 
this amount, approximately $5.2 million, or 77% was with PrimeStar, which is    
owned by cable television MSOs.  The Company also performed work for DIRECTV and
ECHONET.                                                                        

   The Company markets its services to PrimeStar in a manner similar to that
used to market to cable television companies.  Other DBS providers tend to      
utilize numerous contractors to perform their cabling services, and in many     
geographical markets the Company has been unable to obtain the necessary volume 
of work needed to operate in an acceptable profitable manner.                   

  COMPETITIVE LOCAL EXCHANGE CARRIERS.  The Company provides outside plant
construction services to Competitive Local Exchange Carriers ("CLECs").  CLECs  
build and operate communication networks in metropolitan areas to provide       
customers with an alternative to the local telephone company.  The Company's    
construction services entail both the physical construction of the fiber optic  
ring and the installation of fiber optic drops from the ring to subscriber      
office buildings.  During the 1997 fiscal year, the Company performed           
approximately $1.2 million of construction work for Time Warner Cable's         
competitive access division in Houston, Texas and approximately $0.9 million    
with MFS Communications Company.                                                

OPERATIONS                                                                      

The Company provides its services predominately through the use of    
independent contractors via its national network of regional and satellite field
offices.  Each regional office is headed by a field manager whose primary duties
consist of new business development and contract oversight.  Field managers     
employ project managers who are responsible for locating and qualifying         
independent contractor production personnel, maintaining and deploying vehicles 
and equipment, and supporting the field manager in maintaining customer         
relationships.  The smaller satellite field offices report to and are supervised
by the larger regional offices.  Regional field offices are "full service"      
providers and can typically offer both outside plant construction and premises  
wiring services.  The Company's operating profitability and capacity to increase
revenues is largely dependent upon its ability to locate and attract qualified  
field managers, project managers, and technical production personnel.           

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  The Company's corporate headquarters in Columbus, Ohio provides national
marketing support, strategic planning, administrative services and operations   
support for the Company's field offices.  The corporate office develops and     
maintains customer relationships with national companies and provides support   
for field offices performing work for these customers in local markets.  In     
addition, the corporate office assists field managers in responding to all bid  
requests by providing engineering support, performing cost analyses to determine
pricing, and preparing proposal response documentation.  All purchasing and     
accounting functions are managed at the corporate level.                        

CONTRACTS                                                                       

Many MSOs, CLECs, Telcos, and DBS providers require cabling service   
contractors, such as the Company, to first enter into a master contract which   
establishes certain requirements to be met before actual work orders are issued.
However, master contracts do not bind these companies to use any one cabling    
service contractor in any given locality or for any given project.  Rather, they
negotiate with individual cabling service contractors, both regionally and      
locally, on a project by project basis.  Therefore, the Company has no extended 
commitment from any single MSO, CLEC, Telco, or DBS provider and bids on        
individual projects along with its competitors.  The Company is typically       
compensated on these projects on a per unit basis for actual services performed.
The Company's network cabling services, in contrast, are generally nonrecurring 
in nature and are contracted on a project-by-project basis.  Since the          
Company's services are generally provided on a project-by-project basis, the    
amount of work being performed at any given time for any particular customer    
and the general mix of customers for which work is being performed can vary     
significantly.                                                                  

MATERIALS                                                                       

     The Company provides both labor only and material turnkey services.  In the
majority of non-network cabling contracts, the Company's customers supply most  
or all of the materials required for the project.  The majority of the Company's
network contracts are turnkey contracts, in which the Company provides both the 
labor and materials necessary for the network installation.  The Company        
purchases cabling materials directly from independent third party suppliers, and
does not manufacture any materials for resale to customers.  The Company is not 
dependent upon any one supplier for network cabling materials and has not       
experienced, nor anticipates experiencing, difficulties in obtaining network    
cabling materials.                                                              

COMPETITION                                                                     

The Company effectively competes both with the in-house service       
organizations of MSOs and numerous national, regional and local competitors in  
its markets based on its track record of performance, the depth of its          
management and field office network, its ability to commit manpower and         
equipment to multiple ongoing projects, and its competitive pricing.  In order  
to eliminate the ongoing expense and effort required to manage labor intensive, 
multi-office service organizations, the cable television and telephone          
industries historically have sought to out-source a large portion of these      
services to independent contractors, such as the Company.  The Company believes 
that while it may be considered dominant in many of the markets in which it     
provides cabling services, there are few barriers to entry into the cabling     
service business and, as a result, any business that has access to persons who  
possess technical expertise may become a competitor of the Company.  The markets
in which the Company provides network cabling services are highly competitive   
and many of the competitors in those markets have greater financial resources   
than the Company.  While certain of the companies with which the Company        
competes are larger than the Company and have greater technical, marketing and  
financial resources, a large number of its competitors are smaller than the     
Company.  Smaller regional and local competitors may be able to offer lower     
prices because of lower overhead expenses.  Because of the highly competitive   
bidding environment in recent years for cable service contracts, the price of   
the cable service contractor's bid has often been the deciding factor in        
determining whether such contractor was awarded                                 

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a contract for a cabling project.  As the demand for cabling services increases,
the Company believes that contracts will be awarded based on the combination of 
a contractor's price, its track record for completing projects, its ability to  
dedicate management and production personnel to the project, and its financial  
and operational resources to complete the contract.                             

PERSONNEL                                                                       

As of March 30, 1997, the Company had 487 employees of which 51 are   
employees at the Corporate Office in Columbus, Ohio and 436 are employed in     
field offices.  The Company believes that its relationship with its employees is
good.                                                                           

The Company provides most of its cabling services through the use of  
independent contractors which are either sole proprietorships or small business 
entities.  Independent contractors are engaged and compensated on a project-by- 
project basis to perform local work.  They generally provide their own vehicles,
tools and insurance coverage.  Independent contractors are paid in accordance   
with a schedule of unit rates for the performance of specific services.         

SEASONALITY AND VARIABILITY IN QUARTERLY RESULTS                                

   The Company's quarterly revenues and associated operating results have in
the past, and may in the future, vary depending upon a number of factors.  The  
Company has no long-term contractual commitments to provide its services.  The  
contractual commitments which do exist generally can be terminated on 30 days   
notice.  These contractual commitments do not involve a firm backlog of         
committed work because the nature of the Company's contracts with MSOs, CLECs,  
Telcos and DBS providers produce daily work orders only on a project-by-project 
basis which must be funded by an approved purchase order.  In addition, network 
cabling services are generally nonrecurring in nature and are contracted on a   
project-by-project basis.  Therefore, the amount of work performed at any given 
time and the general mix of customers for which work is being performed can vary
significantly (see "Contracts").  The Company's operations historically have    
also been influenced by the budget cycles of the Company's customers.  Many of  
the Company's cable television customers utilize a calendar year budget cycle,  
funded with quarterly purchase authorizations, which in certain fiscal years has
resulted in a lack of availability of funds in the Company's third fiscal       
quarter and has delayed work authorizations in the Company's fourth fiscal      
quarter.   Consolidation within the telecommunications industry may also delay  
or depress capital spending, as companies assess their new business plans and   
strategies and focus on administrative and operational issues associated with   
their acquisitions or alliances.  Telecommunication providers are also subject  
to actual and potential local, state, and federal regulations that influence the
availability of work for which the Company may compete.  For example, the       
Company believes that uncertainty regarding pending federal telecommunications  
legislation decreased capital spending by many of its customers during the 1996 
fiscal year.  Weather may affect operating results due to the fact that outside 
plant construction cabling services are performed outdoors.  Weather can also   
impact the Company's premises wiring cabling services due to the limited and    
lost production associated with poor driving conditions and generally difficult 
working environments.  Operating results may also be affected by the capital    
spending patterns of the Company's customers and by the success of various      
technologies and business strategies employed by them.  In fiscal 1997, the     
Company recorded approximately $10.3 million in revenues from telephone         
companies that were investing in relatively new markets by building or expanding
broadband or wireless video systems.  The amount of future capital allocated by 
these companies to their video programs is largely contingent upon the financial
success of these programs.  The Company's operating profitability and capacity  
to increase revenues is also largely dependent upon its ability to locate and   
attract qualified field managers, project managers, and technical production    
personnel.  Other factors that may affect the Company's operating results       
include the size and timing of significant projects, and the gain or loss of a  
significant contract or customer.                                               

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ITEM 2    PROPERTIES.                                                           

       The Company's corporate headquarters are located in Columbus, Ohio.
The Company's regional field offices service the following metropolitan areas:  
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Houston, San Antonio, Louisville, Chicago, 
St. Louis, Columbus, Cincinnati, Omaha, New York, Richmond, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, 
Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Detroit.  A typical field office consists of  an   
office with an attached warehouse for the storage of materials, tools and       
equipment and an adjacent secure outside storage area.  The Company leases its  
corporate headquarters and all of its field offices from unaffiliated lessors.  
The lease terms, including options exercisable by the Company, range from one   
month to five years.  The Company believes that its present facilities are      
sufficient for its needs for the foreseeable future.                            

ITEM 3    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.                                                    

       The Company is involved in various legal proceedings, most of which
arise in the ordinary course of business and many of which are covered by       
insurance.  In the opinion of the Company's management, none of the claims      
relating to such proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the         
financial condition or results of operations of the Company.                    

ITEM 4    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.                  

Not applicable.                                             

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 PART II

ITEM 5    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED                     
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.                                        

       On August 12, 1994, the Company's common stock began trading on the
NASDAQ National Market, under the symbol "ALNK".  Prior to that time, there was 
no established trading market in the Company's stock.  The following table sets 
forth for the periods indicated the high and low last sales price for the common
shares, as reported by the NASDAQ National Market.                              

                                              Sales Prices
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                          High                 Low
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1996                                                

Quarter Ended July 2, 1995                    $  10.000             $ 6.000     

Quarter Ended October 1, 1995                 $   9.250             $ 7.250     

Quarter Ended December 31, 1995               $   8.750             $ 6.250     

Quarter ended March 31, 1996                  $   9.250             $ 6.750     

FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 30, 1997                                                

Quarter Ended June 30, 1996                   $   9.000             $ 7.625     

Quarter Ended September 29, 1996              $   7.750             $ 6.500     

Quarter Ended December 29, 1996               $   7.625             $ 5.000     

Quarter Ended March 30, 1997                  $   8.000             $ 5.125     

The Company has never paid cash dividends, other than S Corporation             
distributions, on its common stock.  The Company currently intends to retain all
of its net earnings to finance future growth and therefore does not anticipate  
paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.                            

As of June 18, 1997, there were approximately 1,468 record holders of the       
Company's stock.                                                                

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ITEM 6    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.                                              

         The selected financial data included in the following table should be
read in conjunction with the Company's Financial Statements and related notes   
and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of 
Operations" appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  The        
selected financial data has been derived from the Company's audited consolidated
financial statements.                                                           

                                                        [Enlarge/Download Table]


                                                                       FISCAL YEAR ENDED                            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               MARCH 28,       APRIL 3,      APRIL 2,      MARCH 31,      MARCH 30, 
                                                 1993            1994          1995          1996           1997    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)               
                                                                                                                    
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:                                                                                       
Revenues                                      $  24,970       $ 32,833      $  47,541       $ 56,055       $ 63,036 
Income from operations                              686          1,084          2,780          1,170          3,301 
 Income before                                                                                                      
    income taxes (a)                                577            841          2,487            686          2,691 
 Net income (a)                                     346            505          1,492            457          1,568 
 Net income per common                                                                                              
    share (a)                                 $    0.13       $   0.19      $    0.45       $   0.13       $   0.44 
 Weighted  average common                                                                                           
    shares outstanding                            2,702          2,702          3,351          3,626          3,589 

BALANCE SHEET DATA:                                                                                                 
  Total assets                                $   8,334       $ 10,363      $  17,133       $ 20,554       $ 26,211 
  Total debt                                      2,321          4,206          4,009          6,563          9,069 
  Shareholders' equity                            3,641          3,315          8,754          9,211         10,802 


---------------                                                                 

 NOTE:        The Company made S corporation distributions to its shareholders
           Larry R. Linhart, E. Len Gibson and Robert L. Powelson of (in
           thousands) $940 in fiscal 1993, -0- in fiscal 1994, $3,200 in
           fiscal 1995 ($2,700 of which was made in conjunction with the
          Company's initial public offering in August 1994 and $500 of
               which was paid in April 1994).  No dividends have been paid since
       the Company's initial public offering on August 12, 1994.

    (a)        On a pro forma basis, except for the fiscal years ended March 31,
             1996 and March 30, 1997.  See notes 1 and 7 to the consolidated
financial statements.                             

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ITEM 7    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION           
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.                                  

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION ACT OF 1995       

   The Company cautions that any forward-looking statements (as such term is
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995) contained in this     
Report or made by management of the Company involve risks and uncertainties, and
are subject to change based on various important factors.  These important      
factors include, among others, competitive and regulatory risks associated with 
the telecommunications industry, the risk of changing market conditions and     
customer purchase authorizations which may be influenced by budget cycles of the
Company's customers, consolidation within the telecommunications industry, and  
the success of various technologies and business strategies employed by the     
Company's customers, and other risks described in the Company's Securities and  
Exchange Commission filings.                                                    

OVERVIEW                                                                        

          The Company reported record revenues and operating income for the 1997
fiscal year which ended March 30, 1997.  Net income per common share for the    
year more than tripled to $0.44 per share versus $0.13 recorded in fiscal 1996. 
The Company's increased revenues and operating profitability are the result of  
three primary factors: (1) an improving market and more work opportunities as a 
result of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, (2) successful implementation of a
strategy of obtaining and performing more premises wiring projects and reducing 
Company revenues generated from outside plant construction projects, and (3) a  
continued focus on broadening the Company's customer base in order to reduce its
dependency on cable television companies.                                       

       After deliberation for several years, the Telecommunications Act of
1996 ("the Act") was signed into law by the President in February, 1996.  Key   
provisions of the Act were designed to enhance competition within the           
Telecommunications industry.  These provisions include: (1) allowing telephone  
companies to sell video services, and in certain cases, to buy local cable      
companies, (2) deregulating cable companies (such as allowing them to charge    
what they wish for many channels) once there is effective competition or after  
three years, (3) permitting Regional Bell Operating Companies ("RBOCs") to enter
the long distance market once certain conditions are met in the local phone     
market, and (4) allowing long distance providers to enter the local phone       
business.  The Company believes that the enhanced competitive environment       
fostered by the Act has had, and should   continue to have, a favorable impact  
on the Company as it should increase spending by telecommunication providers and
should increase the demand for the Company's cabling services.  A larger and    
more competitive marketplace has allowed the Company to successfully market its 
cabling services to telephone companies, and to be more selective with regard to
the projects it performs.  Company revenues generated from telephone companies  
that are building or expanding video systems were approximately $10.3 million in
fiscal 1997, including approximately $5.4 million in the fourth fiscal quarter. 
Similar revenues for all of fiscal 1996 were only approximately $2.0 million.   
Faced with competition for video services from both telephone companies and DBS 
providers, many cable television companies have announced plans to increase     
their capital spending in order to expand their existing channel capacity and to
offer new services and next generation technologies.  Increased competition and 
capital spending allows the Company to deploy its resources on those projects   
that offer the highest possible profitability.  Since premises wiring cabling   
services are similar in nature, the Company has the ability to shift management 
and production resources to those industries, customers, and projects that      
provide the most economic potential.                                            

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    The following table sets forth for the 1996 and 1997 fiscal years, both in
dollars and as a percent, (1) total Company revenues segregated by approximate  
premises wiring and outside plant construction services and (2) total Company   
revenues segregated by approximate revenues derived from cable television MSOs  
or MSO controlled companies and non cable companies.                            

                                                        [Enlarge/Download Table]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

REVENUES                                                    FISCAL 1996                                FISCAL 1997          

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                            
Premises wiring                                  $   37.3                 66%               $   53.4                85%     
Outside plant construction                           18.8                 34%                    9.6                15%     
                                                 -----------          ----------            ----------          ----------- 
Total                                            $   56.1                100%               $   63.0               100%     
                                                 -----------          ----------            ----------          ----------- 
                                                 -----------          ----------            ----------          ----------- 

Cable companies                                  $   42.4                 76%               $   32.0                51%     
Non cable companies                                  13.7                 24%                   31.0                49%     
                                                 -----------          ----------            ----------          ----------- 
Total                                            $   56.1                100%               $   63.0               100%     
                                                 -----------          ----------            ----------          ----------- 
                                                 -----------          ----------            ----------          ----------- 

  In late fiscal 1996, the Company implemented a strategy of obtaining and
performing more residential and commercial premises wiring projects due to      
management's belief that they provide more financial opportunity than outside   
plant construction projects.  The Company has more premises wiring cabling      
experience and believes it is more skilled and knowledgeable with regard to     
premises wiring projects than with outside plant construction projects,         
especially the larger construction projects which require more technical        
expertise and experienced managers.  These factors, along with the current      
favorable premises wiring market, resulted in the Company aggressively pursuing 
premises wiring opportunities.  Revenues derived from premises wiring services  
for fiscal 1997 increased 43% to approximately $53.4 million from approximately 
$37.3 million in fiscal 1996.                                                   

    Finally, the Company has continued to diversify its customer base in order
to reduce its dependency on cable television companies.  Historically, the      
Company's revenues and results of operations have largely been impacted by the  
level of capital spending within the domestic cable industry.  The amount of    
capital spending has been cyclical and has been affected by a number of factors,
including perceived or actual government regulation, industry access to         
financial markets, industry consolidation, and other demands for capital (such  
as the personal communication service ("PCS") capital commitments).  In the     
past, delayed, depressed or irregular capital spending has negatively affected  
the Company's operating results.  The Company has progressively reduced its     
dependency on cable operators by actively marketing its premises wiring services
to other industries, primarily commercial network customers and telephone       
companies.  Revenues derived from network cabling services for fiscal 1997      
increased approximately $6.1 million, or 79% from the $7.7 million recorded last
fiscal year.  In total, revenues from cable television MSOs or MSO controlled   
companies as a percent of total Company revenues has decreased from             
approximately 91% to 76% to 51% for the fiscal years 1995, 1996, and 1997,      
respectively.                                                                   

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS                                                           

     Revenue is generated from cabling projects performed via work orders issued
under master contracts.  Contract costs may vary depending upon the contract    
volume, the level of productivity, competitive factors in the local market, and 
other items.  Cost of sales includes subcontractor production costs, materials  
not supplied by the customer, vehicle and machinery expenses, and business      
insurance related costs.  Selling, general and administrative expenses consist  
primarily of field employee wages and payroll costs.  The Company's selling,    
general and administrative cost structure is maintained at levels necessary to  
adequately support both anticipated near term revenue levels and projected      
longer term revenue levels.  These anticipated revenue levels and associated    
cost structures may vary among the Company's regional field offices and         
geographic market areas.                                                        

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FISCAL 1997 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1996.                                            

REVENUES                                                              

     Total revenues for fiscal 1997 were $63,035,814 compared to $56,055,416 for
fiscal 1996, an increase of 12.5%.                                              

Total residential and commercial premises wiring revenues (non outside
plant construction cabling services) for fiscal 1997 increased 43% to           
approximately $53.4 million compared to approximately $37.3 million in fiscal   
1996.  Revenues from network cabling services increased $6.1 million or 79% to  
roughly $13.8 million in fiscal 1997 due to increased marketing efforts by the  
Company for these services.  In addition, premises wiring revenues derived from 
telephone companies for new video services increased to approximately $10.3     
million for fiscal 1997 compared to approximately $2.0 million for the 1996     
fiscal year. The Company believes that as a result of the Telecommunications Act
of 1996, certain telephone companies have increased their capital expenditures  
for video systems, and the Company has aggressively marketed its services to    
these companies.                                                                

Outside plant construction revenues for fiscal 1997 declined to       
approximately $9.6 million from roughly  $18.8 million in fiscal 1996,          
reflecting management's announced strategy to de-emphasize these services.      

   The Company recorded sequential increases in revenues during each quarter
of fiscal 1997, including a record $17,120,507 in the fourth quarter which ended
March 30, 1997.  Revenues during the fourth quarter of fiscal 1996 were         
negatively impacted by the following: (1) lower than anticipated capital        
spending by its cable television customers in several market areas, (2) delays  
in the start-up of network cabling projects, and (3) unusually severe weather in
January.                                                                        

GROSS PROFIT                                                          

Gross profit for fiscal 1997 was $21,738,347, or 34.5% of revenues, as
compared to $17,104,657, or 30.5% of revenues, for fiscal 1996.                 

     The increase in gross margin for fiscal 1997 can primarily be attributed to
the emphasis on premises wiring projects over outside plant construction        
projects.  Outside plant construction projects require the use of heavy         
machinery, specialized trucks, tool systems, and other related construction     
equipment which reduce the Company's gross margin.  In fiscal 1996, the         
Company's overall operating results were negatively impacted by operating losses
incurred on a large outside plant construction project in the San Diego area.   
These operating losses totaled approximately $(0.6) million, due primarily to   
high vehicle, equipment, and production costs, on contract revenues of          
approximately $4.9 million.  The Company's overall operating results for the    
first six months of fiscal 1997 were negatively impacted by operating losses of 
approximately ($370,000) as a result of the Company's decision to close its San 
Diego regional office and the completion of remaining outside plant construction
projects there.                                                                 

SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE                                   

Selling, general, and administrative expenses for fiscal 1997 were    
$18,436,896 or 29.2% of revenues as compared to $15,935,087 or 28.4% of revenues
for fiscal 1996.                                                                

 The Company's selling, general and administrative cost structure, which
consists primarily of field employee wages and payroll costs, is maintained at  
levels necessary to adequately support both anticipated near term revenues and  
projected longer term revenues.  These anticipated revenue levels and associated
cost structures may vary among the Company's regional field offices and         
geographic market areas.  The dollar increase in selling, general, and          
administrative expenses for fiscal 1997 is primarily due to increased employee  
wages and associated costs incurred to support both current period revenues and 
anticipated future revenues.  Selling, general, and administrative expenses also
include additional amounts for sales personnel engaged in marketing the         
Company's local area network cabling services.  The Company's selling, general  
and administrative expenses during the current fiscal year were also impacted by
an unusually large charge to bad debts of $234,000 as a result of a customer    
filing for protection under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.                  

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INTEREST EXPENSE                                                      

Interest expense was $617,004 or 1.0% of revenues for fiscal 1997 as  
compared to $512,214 or 0.9% of  revenues for fiscal 1996.                      

The dollar increase in interest expense is primarily due to increased 
borrowings to finance accounts receivable and work-in-process.                  

FISCAL 1996 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1995.                                            

REVENUES                                                              

     Total revenues for fiscal 1996 were $56,055,416 compared to $47,541,021 for
fiscal 1995, representing a 18% increase.                                       

Approximately $3.3 million and $2.6 million of the total $8.5 million 
increase in revenues is the result of growth in both network cabling and direct 
broadcast satellite services, respectively.  This growth is due to increased    
marketing efforts for such services.  The remaining revenue increase resulted   
primarily from an increase in the volume of work orders from either existing or 
new contracts.  For the year, residential and commercial premises wiring        
revenues (non outside plant construction cabling services) increased            
approximately 27%.                                                              

    Revenues during the fourth quarter of fiscal 1996 were negatively impacted
by the following: (1) lower than anticipated capital spending by its cable      
television customers in several market areas (2) delays in the start-up of      
network cabling projects, and (3) unusually severe weather in January.          

GROSS PROFIT                                                          

Gross profit was $17,104,657, or 30.5% of revenues, for fiscal 1996 as
compared to $15,674,936, or 33.0% of revenues, for fiscal 1995.  The decrease in
gross profit as a percentage of revenues can be attributed primarily to two     
factors.  The first is higher cabling material revenues generated from the      
Company's network cabling services.  The cost of these materials, which are     
billed at near cost because of competitive pressures, is included in cost of    
sales, which decreases gross profit as a percentage of sales.  Secondly, the    
Company's gross profit for fiscal 1996 was negatively impacted by operating     
losses, due primarily to high production costs and vehicle and equipment costs, 
incurred on a large construction project in the San Diego area.                 

SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE                                   

    Selling, general and administrative expenses were $15,935,087, or 28.4% of
revenues, for fiscal 1996 as compared to $12,895,108, or 27.1% of revenues, for 
fiscal 1995.  The dollar increase in selling, general and administrative        
expenses is primarily due to additional employee wages incurred to support both 
actual and anticipated increased revenues.  During fiscal 1996, the Company also
increased sales personnel for marketing  network cabling services.              

INTEREST EXPENSE                                                      

 Interest expense was $512,214, or 0.9% of revenues, for fiscal 1996, as
compared to $342,891, or 0.7% of revenues, for fiscal 1995.  The dollar and     
percentage increase in interest expense can principally be attributed to        
increased borrowings in fiscal 1996 to finance capital expenditures and for     
related receivables financing.                                                  

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES                                       

    GENERAL.   Historically, the Company's principal sources of liquidity have
come from operating cash flow and credit arrangements.  The Company's primary   
requirements for working capital are to finance accounts receivable, work-in-   
process and capital expenditures.  Pursuant to a typical construction, MDU      
(multiple dwelling unit),  or LAN cabling contract, work performed by the       
Company is generally not billed to a customer until various stages in a project 
are complete or until the entire project is complete.  Because the Company pays 
its suppliers and subcontractors on a current basis, to the extent that trade   
payables exceed customer accounts paid at any given time, the Company draws on  
its revolving credit note to finance its work-in-process until project work is  
billed to and paid by the customer.                                             

    Combined accounts receivable and work-in-process at March 30, 1997 totaled
$17,853,591 compared to $11,802,060 at March 31, 1996, an increase of $6,051,531
or 51%.  This increase is due primarily to the record level of revenues that the
Company recorded during the 1997 fiscal fourth quarter which ended March 30,    
1997.  Revenues for all of fiscal 1997 were $63,035,814, an increase of         
$6,980,398 or 12% from the $56,055,416 recorded in fiscal 1996; however,        
revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997 increased 32% to a record        
$17,120,507 compared with $12,935,879 in the comparable quarter last year.  In  
addition, fiscal 1997 revenues and work-in-process include increases in the     
Company's volume of MDU and network cabling projects.  The Company anticipates  
that it will continue to receive collections of its accounts receivable in the  
ordinary course of business in sufficient amounts to permit it to comply with   
all covenants and terms of its revolving credit note.  There is no assurance,   
however, that the Company will be able to collect all or substantially all of   
its accounts receivable outstanding at any time, although the Company           
believes it has adequately provided for potential losses through its            
allowance for doubtful accounts.  The Company's failure to collect              
substantially all of its accounts receivable and work-in-process would have     
an adverse impact on its working capital and could adversely affect its         
results of operations.                                                          

    Capital requirements are dependent upon a number of factors, including the
Company's revenues, level of operations, and the type of contracts and work that
the Company performs.  Due to the fact that the Company generally has no        
extended commitments from its customers, it is difficult to forecast longer term
revenues and associated capital expenditure and operating cash requirements.    

    The Company reviews credit arrangements with its commercial bank annually.
As of March 30, 1997, the Company had available $3,000,000 under its revolving  
credit note.  The Company does not anticipate difficulties in obtaining         
additional credit from its commercial bank should the need arise.  The Company  
will also periodically examine financing capital needs through the issuance of  
additional common stock.                                                        

  Management believes that current and possible additional credit from its
commercial bank, cash flow from operations, and funds which may be obtained from
the issuance of common stock should provide sufficient capital to meet the      
reasonably foreseeable business needs of the Company.                           

   CURRENT CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS.   Under a loan agreement with its commercial
bank that was amended September 27, 1996, the Company has a $12,000,000         
unsecured revolving credit note and an unsecured term note.  The interest rate  
on the revolving credit note is prime minus 1% and interest is payable monthly. 
The revolving credit note matures September 30, 1998 and includes a commitment  
fee of 1/4% on any unused portion of the note.  Borrowings under the revolving  
credit note were $9,000,000 at March 30, 1997.                                  

   The unsecured term note in the amount of $1,629,190 matures May 31, 1997.
Interest is payable monthly at the bank's prime rate.  The balance of the       
unsecured term note at March 30, 1997  was $69,190.                             

     The loan agreement limits the Company's ability to create or incur liens on
its assets, to incur additional indebtedness, to guarantee the indebtedness of  
others and to make loans or advances.  Additionally, the agreement restricts the
Company from entering into merger or acquisition transactions or transactions   
involving the sale of substantially all of its assets without the prior consent 
of the bank.  The loan agreement also requires the Company to meet certain      
financial tests.                                                                

  CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES.   For fiscal 1997, net cash used in
operating activities totaled                                                    

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$258,607.  This is principally the result of increases in accounts receivable   
and work-in-process that were not offset by corresponding increases in trade    
accounts payable and liabilities to subcontractors.  The Company is limited in  
its ability to offset increases in accounts receivable and work-in-process      
through increases in accounts payable or liabilities to subcontractors.         
Increased cash requirements due to increased accounts receivable and work-in-   
process were somewhat negated by noncash expenses of depreciation and           
amortization which totaled $2,242,312.                                          

  CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES.   For fiscal 1997, net cash used in
investing activities totaled $2,205,641.  This was mainly due to the purchase of
property and equipment in the amount of $2,752,254.  The level of capital       
expenditures is dependent largely upon the level of outside plant construction  
services that  the Company performs.  The Company uses heavy machinery,         
specialized trucks, and other construction equipment to perform its construction
services.  Capital  expenditures for fiscal 1997 decreased approximately $1.5   
million or 35% from fiscal 1996.  This decrease is the result of the Company    
doing less outside  plant construction work in fiscal 1997.                     

SEASONALITY AND VARIABILITY IN QUARTERLY RESULTS                                

   The Company's quarterly revenues and associated operating results have in
the past, and may in the future, vary depending upon a number of factors.  The  
Company has no long-term contractual commitments to provide its services.  The  
contractual commitments which do exist generally can be terminated on 30 days   
notice.  These contractual commitments do not involve a firm backlog of         
committed work because the nature of the Company's contracts with MSOs, CLECs,  
Telcos and DBS providers produce daily work orders only on a project-by-project 
basis which must be funded by an approved purchase order.  In addition, network 
cabling services are generally nonrecurring in nature and are contracted on a   
project-by-project basis.  Therefore, the amount of work performed at any given 
time and the general mix of customers for which work is being performed can vary
significantly.  The Company's operations historically have also been influenced 
by the budget cycles of the Company's customers.  Many of the Company's cable   
television customers utilize a calendar year budget cycle, funded with quarterly
purchase authorizations, which in certain fiscal years has resulted in a lack of
availability of funds in the Company's third fiscal quarter and has delayed work
authorizations in the Company's fourth fiscal quarter.   Consolidation within   
the telecommunications industry may also delay or depress capital spending, as  
companies assess their new business plans and strategies and focus on           
administrative and operational issues associated with their acquisitions or     
alliances.  Telecommunication providers are also subject to actual and potential
local, state, and federal regulations that influence the availability of work   
for which the Company may compete.  For example, the Company believes that      
uncertainty regarding pending federal telecommunications legislation decreased  
capital spending by many of its customers during the 1996 fiscal year.  Weather 
may affect operating results due to the fact that construction cabling services 
are performed outdoors.  Weather can also impact the Company's premises wiring  
cabling services due to the limited and lost production associated with poor    
driving conditions and generally difficult working environments.  Operating     
results may also be affected by the capital spending patterns of the Company's  
customers and by the success of various technologies and business strategies    
employed by them.  In fiscal 1997, the Company recorded approximately $10.3     
million in revenues from telephone companies that were investing in relatively  
new markets by building or expanding broadband or wireless video systems.  The  
amount of future capital allocated by these companies to their video programs is
largely contingent upon the financial success of these programs.  The Company's 
operating profitability and capacity to increase revenues is also largely       
dependent upon its ability to locate and attract qualified field managers,      
project managers, and technical production personnel.  Other factors that may   
affect the Company's operating results include the size and timing of           
significant projects, and the gain or loss of a significant contract or         
customer.                                                                       

INFLATION                                                                       

     Historically, inflation has not been a significant factor to the Company as
labor is the primary cost of operations and its contracts are typically short-  
term in nature.  On an ongoing basis, the Company attempts to minimize any      
effects of inflation on its operating results by controlling operating costs    
and, whenever possible, seeking to insure that selling prices reflect increases 
in costs due to inflation.                                                      

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS                                                           

The Company anticipates that its compliance with various laws and     
regulations relating to the protection of the environment will not have a       
material effect on its capital expenditures, future earnings or competitive     
position.                                                                       

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ITEM 8   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.                           

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

Board of Directors and Shareholders                                             
AmeriLink Corporation                                                           

   We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of AmeriLink
Corporation and Subsidiary (the Company) as of March 31, 1996 and March 30,     
1997, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in             
shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period  
ended March 30, 1997.  Our audits also included the financial statement schedule
listed in the Index at Item 14(a).  These financial statements and schedule are 
the responsibility of the Company's management.  Our responsibility is to       
express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our      
audits.                                                                         

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by      
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. 
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.          

 In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of
AmeriLink Corporation and Subsidiary at March 31, 1996 and March 30, 1997, and  
the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the   
three years in the period ended March 30, 1997, in conformity with generally    
accepted accounting principles.  Also, in our opinion, the related financial    
statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial          
statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the       
information set forth therein.                                                  

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP                                                           
Columbus, Ohio                                                                  
May 16, 1997                                                                    

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 AMERILINK CORPORATION
 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                        [Enlarge/Download Table]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    MARCH 31, 1996      MARCH 30, 1997  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                        
ASSETS                                                                                                  
Current assets:                                                                                         
  Cash and cash equivalents                                         $     78,680        $    120,395    
  Accounts receivable-trade, net of allowance for doubtful                                              
   accounts of $95,000 in 1996 and $171,000 in 1997                    8,899,443          13,558,789    
  Work-in-process                                                      2,902,617           4,294,802    
  Materials and supply inventories                                     1,710,084           1,509,840    
  Other receivables                                                      221,659             308,217    
  Deferred income taxes                                                  127,286             142,593    
  Other                                                                  510,263             153,125    
                                                                      ----------          ----------    
       Total current assets                                           14,450,032          20,087,761    

  Property and equipment - net                                         6,032,551           5,928,062    
  Deposits and other assets                                               71,217             183,578    

  Deferred income taxes                                                     ----              11,710    
                                                                      ----------          ----------    
  Total assets                                                     $  20,553,800        $ 26,211,111    
                                                                      ----------          ----------    
                                                                      ----------          ----------    
  LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                                                                  
  Current liabilities:                                                                                  
    Trade accounts payable                                          $  1,802,121         $ 2,318,675    
    Liability to subcontractors                                        1,083,186           1,960,754    
    Accrued compensation and related expenses                          1,078,935           1,435,672    
    Accrued insurance                                                    536,872             368,257    
    Other                                                                160,952             256,151    
    Current maturities of long-term debt                                 720,000              69,190    
                                                                      ----------          ----------    
       Total current liabilities                                       5,382,066           6,408,699    

  Long-term debt,  less current maturities                             5,843,227           9,000,000    
  Deferred income taxes                                                  117,839                ----    
                                                                      ----------          ----------    
       Total liabilities                                              11,343,132          15,408,699    
  Shareholders' equity:                                                                                 
     Preferred stock, without par;  1,000,000 shares authorized;                                        
      none issued or outstanding                                            ----                ----    

     Common stock, without par; 10,000,000 shares authorized;                                           
      3,478,580 in 1996 and 3,481,580 in 1997 shares issued                                             
      and outstanding                                                  8,061,395           8,084,645    

     Retained earnings                                                 1,149,273           2,717,767    
                                                                      ----------          ----------    
       Total shareholders' equity                                      9,210,668          10,802,412    
                                                                      ----------          ----------    
  Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                        $ 20,553,800        $ 26,211,111    
                                                                      ----------          ----------    
                                                                      ----------          ----------    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.                                              

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AMERILINK CORPORATION 
 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 FOR THE FIFTY-TWO WEEKS ENDED

                                                        [Enlarge/Download Table]


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       APRIL 2, 1995        MARCH 31, 1996          MARCH 30, 1997  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                    
Revenues                                                               $   47,541,021          $  56,055,416         $   63,035,814 
Cost of sales                                                              31,866,085             38,950,759             41,297,467 
                                                                        -------------           ------------          ------------- 
Gross profit                                                               15,674,936             17,104,657             21,738,347 
Selling, general and administrative expenses                               12,895,108             15,935,087             18,436,896 
                                                                        -------------           ------------          ------------- 
Income from operations                                                      2,779,828              1,169,570              3,301,451 
Interest expense                                                             (342,891)              (512,214)              (617,004)
Other income                                                                    7,825                 28,688                  7,047 
                                                                        -------------           ------------          ------------- 
Income before income taxes                                                  2,444,762                686,044              2,691,494 
Provision for income taxes                                                    994,988                229,000              1,123,000 
                                                                        -------------           ------------          ------------- 
Net income                                                             $    1,449,774          $     457,044         $    1,568,494 
                                                                        -------------           ------------          ------------- 
                                                                        -------------           ------------          ------------- 
Net income per common share                                                                    $        0.13         $         0.44 
                                                                                                ------------          ------------- 
                                                                                                ------------          ------------- 
Weighted average common shares outstanding                                  3,350,521              3,625,510              3,589,131 
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA INFORMATION (NOTE 7)                                                                                            
Pro forma income before income taxes                                   $    2,487,221                                               
Pro forma provision for income taxes                                          994,888                                               
                                                                        -------------                                               
Pro forma net income                                                   $    1,492,333                                               
                                                                        -------------                                               
                                                                        -------------                                               
Pro forma net income per common share                                  $         0.45                                               
                                                                        -------------                                               
                                                                        -------------                                               
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.                                              

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AMERILINK CORPORATION 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   NOTE RECEIVABLE -                
                                                    COMMON STOCK                  RETAINED              NACOM                       
                                             SHARES               AMOUNT          EARNINGS               CORP               TOTAL   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                    
Balance at April 3, 1994                    2,588,580      $     191,963       $ 4,386,689       $    (1,264,038)      $  3,314,614 
   Net income                                    ----               ----         1,449,774                  ----          1,449,774 
   Dividends paid                                ----               ----        (3,200,000)                 ----         (3,200,000)
   Proceeds from note receivable-                                                                                                   
     NaCom Corp.                                 ----               ----              ----             1,264,038          1,264,038 
   Net proceeds from sale of                                                                                                        
     common stock, less issuance                                                                                                    
     expenses of $678,602                     890,000          5,925,198              ----                  ----          5,925,198 
   Reclassification of                                                                                                              
     undistributed  S Corporation                                                                                                   
     retained earnings                           ----          1,944,234         (1,944,234)                ----               ---- 
                                            ---------          ---------         ----------           ----------         ---------- 
Balance at April 2,  1995                   3,478,580          8,061,395            692,229                 ----          8,753,624 
   Net income                                    ----               ----            457,044                 ----            457,044 
                                            ---------          ---------         ----------           ----------         ---------- 
Balance at March 31, 1996                   3,478,580          8,061,395         1,149,273                  ----          9,210,668 
   Net income                                    ----               ----         1,568,494                  ----          1,568,494 
   Issuance of  restricted stock                3,000             23,250              ----                  ----             23,250 
                                            ---------          ---------         ----------           ----------         ---------- 
Balance at March 30, 1997                   3,481,580       $  8,084,645       $ 2,717,767         $        ----       $ 10,802,412 
                                            ---------          ---------         ----------           ----------         ---------- 
                                            ---------          ---------         ----------           ----------         ---------- 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.                                              

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AMERILINK CORPORATION 
 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 FOR THE FIFTY-TWO WEEKS ENDED

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                          APRIL 2, 1995         MARCH 31, 1996        MARCH 30, 1997
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                    
 OPERATING ACTIVITIES                                                                                                               
 Net income                                                              $   1,449,774          $   457,044           $   1,568,494 

 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided                                                                           
  by (used in) operating activities:                                                                                                
     Depreciation and  amortization                                          1,458,698            1,950,215               2,242,312 
     Net loss (gain) on disposal of fixed assets                                34,737                9,667                 (14,950)
     Gain on investments                                                        (1,534)             (23,534)                 (6,199)
     Deferred income taxes                                                      86,000             (169,500)               (145,000)
     Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                                                                                   
         Accounts receivable and work-in-process                            (4,634,586)          (1,169,784)             (6,051,531)
         Materials and supply inventories                                     (592,802)            (470,529)                200,244 
         Other receivables                                                      19,517               (1,742)                (86,558)
         Other current assets                                                 (107,061)            (202,743)                357,138 
         Trade accounts payable                                                674,812              493,369                 516,554 
         Liability to subcontractors                                           180,677               65,404                 877,568 
         Accrued compensation and related expenses                             256,271               74,024                 356,737 
         Accrued insurance                                                     222,357             (111,023)               (168,615)
         Other current liabilities                                              94,935               10,930                  95,199 
         Income taxes payable                                                  (67,500)                ----                    ---- 
                                                                          ------------         ------------             ----------- 
 Net cash provided by (used in)  operating activities                         (925,705)             911,798                (258,607)

 INVESTING ACTIVITIES                                                                                                               
     Purchase of property and equipment                                     (2,894,798)          (4,206,245)             (2,752,254)
     Proceeds from sale of property and equipment                               56,212              500,801                 629,525 
     Deposits and other assets                                                  20,755              246,345                 (82,912)
     Proceeds from note receivable - NaCom Corp.                             1,264,038                 ----                    ---- 
                                                                          ------------         ------------             ----------- 
 Net cash used in investing activities                                      (1,553,793)          (3,459,099)             (2,205,641)

 FINANCING ACTIVITIES                                                                                                               
     Principal payments on long-term debt                                  (18,997,065)         (18,645,963)            (20,400,000)
     Proceeds from borrowings on long-term debt                             18,800,000           21,200,000              22,905,963 
     Proceeds from issuance of common stock                                  5,925,198                 ----                    ---- 
     Dividends paid                                                         (3,200,000)                ----                    ---- 
                                                                          ------------         ------------             ----------- 
 Net cash provided by financing activities                                   2,528,133            2,554,037               2,505,963 
                                                                          ------------         ------------             ----------- 
     Increase in cash and cash equivalents                                      48,635                6,736                  41,715 
 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                                 23,309               71,944                  78,680 
                                                                          ------------         ------------             ----------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents at end of year                              $        71,944      $        78,680        $        120,395 
                                                                          ------------         ------------             ----------- 
                                                                          ------------         ------------             ----------- 
 SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW DISCLOSURES                                                                                                 
     Interest paid                                                     $       364,794      $       508,587        $        619,192 
                                                                          ------------         ------------             ----------- 
                                                                          ------------         ------------             ----------- 
     Income taxes paid                                                 $     1,023,094      $       604,192        $        762,048 
                                                                          ------------         ------------             ----------- 
                                                                          ------------         ------------             ----------- 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.                                              

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 AMERILINK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 30, 1997

1.  NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES           

NATURE OF BUSINESS                                                              

   AmeriLink Corporation (the "Company") is a nationwide provider of cabling
systems for the transmission of video, voice and data.  The Company offers its  
services on a national basis to providers of telecommunications services,       
including: cable television multiple system operators ("MSO"s); traditional     
telephone service providers, including local exchange carriers ("LEC"s) and long
distance carriers; competitive local exchange carriers ("CLECs"); Direct        
Broadcast Satellite ("DBS") providers;  and users of Local Area Network ("LAN") 
systems.  The Company's cabling services include the designing, constructing,   
installing and maintaining of fiber optic, copper and coaxial cabling systems.  
The Company provides these services predominately through the use of independent
contractors via its national network of regional and satellite field offices.   
As of March 30, 1997, the Company had 18 regional offices that serviced the     
following metropolitan areas: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Houston, San 
Antonio, Louisville, Chicago, St. Louis, Columbus, Cincinnati, Omaha, New York, 
Richmond, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Detroit.             

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION AND RECAPITALIZATION                                

These financial statements include the accounts of both AmeriLink     
Corporation (the holding company) and its wholly owned subsidiary AmeriLink     
Corp. (the operating company).  Prior to consummation of the Company's initial  
public offering in August, 1994, the business of the Company was conducted      
solely under AmeriLink Corp.  In conjunction with the public offering, the      
shareholders of AmeriLink Corp. received 13,500 shares of AmeriLink Corporation 
stock for each share of AmeriLink Corp. stock held.  As a result of the         
recapitalization, AmeriLink Corporation is the sole shareholder of AmeriLink    
Corp. (See note 5).                                                             

FISCAL YEAR                                                                     

  Fiscal years are designated in the financial statements and notes by the
year in which the fiscal year ends.  Accordingly, results for the fiscal years  
1995, 1996 and 1997 represent the 52 weeks ended April 2, 1995, March 31, 1996, 
and March 30, 1997, respectively.                                               

REVENUES AND COST RECOGNITION                                                   

    The Company recognizes revenues from its fixed and unit price contracts in
process on the percentage of completion method of accounting.  Anticipated      
losses on these contracts are recorded when identified.  Contract costs include 
all direct labor, material, subcontract and other direct project costs related  
to contract performance.                                                        

 Work-in-process typically represents amounts earned under the Company's
contracts but not billed due to timing or not billable to clients according to  
contract terms, which usually consider passage of time, achievement of certain  
milestones or completion of the project.                                        

MAJOR CUSTOMERS                                                                 

    Customers comprising 10% or greater of the Company's fiscal year net sales
are summarized as follows:                                                      
                        1995      1996      1997
                        ----      ----      ----
Time Warner Cable . . . . . . . . . 16%       26%       19%           
Cox Cable Communications. . . . . . 13%       13%        2%           

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 AMERILINK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS --- CONTINUED

1. NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES ---        
CONTINUED                                                                 

CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK                                                   

Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to       
concentration of credit risk, consist principally of uncollateralized trade     
receivables and unbilled work-in-process.  The Company performs ongoing credit  
evaluations of its customers' financial conditions but does not require         
collateral to support customer receivables.  The Company establishes an         
allowance for doubtful accounts based upon factors surrounding the credit risk  
of specific customers, historical trends and other information.                 

MATERIALS AND SUPPLY INVENTORIES                                                

Materials and supply inventories are comprised primarily of cabling   
materials and are stated at cost.  Cost is determined using the first-in, first-
out (FIFO) method.                                                              

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT                                                          

    Property and equipment is recorded at cost.  Depreciation and amortization
for financial reporting purposes is computed using the straight-line method over
the estimated useful lives of the assets.  Generally, the useful lives for all  
major classes of assets are three to seven years.  Recovery of capital costs for
income tax reporting purposes is primarily provided by the use of accelerated   
methods over the statutory recovery periods.  The costs of assets sold or       
retired and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts  
in the year of disposal, and any gain or loss is included in net income.        
Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.                     

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                                                       

 For purposes of the statements of cash flows, the Company considers all
highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of
purchase to be cash equivalents.                                                

INCOME TAXES                                                                    

Income taxes are calculated in accordance with Statement of Financial 
Accounting Standards (SFAS No. 109), "Accounting for Income Taxes."  Deferred   
tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the difference between the   
financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax   
rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.  

COMMON STOCK AND EARNINGS PER SHARE                                             

   Net income per common share and pro forma net income per common share are
based on weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding during
the respective years.                                                           

   All common shares and per share data have been adjusted to give effect to
the recapitalization.                                                           

USE OF ESTIMATES                                                                

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally  
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and        
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and      
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial    
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the         
reporting period.  Management believes those estimates and assumptions utilized 
in preparing the financial statements are reasonable.  Actual results could     
differ from those estimates.                                                    

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 AMERILINK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS --- CONTINUED

1.  NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -         
CONTINUED                                                               

IMPACT OF RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS                                  

     In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
No. 128, "Earnings per Share", which is required to be adopted on December 31,  
1997.  At that time, the Company will be required to change the method currently
used to compute earnings per share and to restate all prior periods.  Under the 
new requirements for calculating primary earnings per share, the dilutive effect
of stock options will be excluded.  The impact is not expected to have a        
significant effect on primary or fully diluted earnings per share for the 52    
weeks ended March 31, 1996 or March 30, 1997.                                   

2.  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT                                                      

Property and equipment consists of the following for the periods ended
March 31, 1996 and March 30, 1997:                                              

                                   1996             1997
                                   ----             ----
Leasehold improvements. . . . .   $     168,295     $     181,486     
Transportation equipment. . . .       4,987,939         5,371,718     
Machinery and equipment . . . .       4,552,090         4,469,496     
Computer equipment and                                                
related software . . . . . . .       1,115,039         1,430,884    
Furniture and fixtures. . . . .         812,189           906,593     
                                ----------        ----------
Total . . . . . . . . . . . .      11,635,552        12,360,177   
Less accumulated                                                      
depreciation . . . . . . . . .      (5,603,001)       (6,432,115)   
                                ----------        ----------
Net property and equipment. .    $  6,032,551     $   5,928,062   
                                ----------        ----------
                                ----------        ----------

3.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS                                                      

     The Company has a Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan covering substantially all
of its employees.  Profit sharing contributions are at the discretion of the    
Board of Directors, although limited to the maximum amount permitted under the  
Internal Revenue Code.  The Company did not make a profit sharing contribution  
for the years ended April 2, 1995, March 31, 1996, and March 30, 1997.  The 401 
(k) Plan allows eligible employees to contribute a portion of their compensation
to the Plan.  The employer may make an additional contribution subject to the   
terms of the Plan.  The contribution expense for the Company to the 401 (k) Plan
for the years ended April 2, 1995, March 31, 1996, and March 30, 1997 was       
$30,377,  $42,901, and $66,109, respectively.                                   

4.  NOTES PAYABLE AND LONG-TERM DEBT                                            

     On September 27, 1996, the Company amended its existing loan agreement with
its commercial bank.  Under terms of the new agreement, the Company increased   
available borrowings under its unsecured revolving credit note (the "credit     
facility") from $10,000,000 to $12,000,000.  Interest is payable at a rate of   
prime minus 1% (7.50% at March 30, 1997).  The revolving credit note matures    
September 30, 1998 and includes a commitment fee of 1/4% on any unused portion  
of the note.                                                                    

 The Company also has an unsecured term note in the amount of $1,629,190
which matures May 31, 1997.  Principle payments of $60,000 and interest at a    
rate of prime (8.50% at March 30, 1997) are paid monthly on the term note.  The 
balance of this note at March 30, 1997 was $69,190.                             

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 AMERILINK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS --- CONTINUED

4.  NOTES PAYABLE AND LONG-TERM DEBT - CONTINUED                                

    The new loan agreement contains certain restrictive covenants which, among
others, require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios.  Borrowings   
under the loan agreement as of March 31, 1996 and March 30, 1997 consist of the 
following:                                                                      

                                             1996                   1997
                                             ----                   ----
    Credit facility                  $     5,774,037       $     9,000,000
    Term note                                789,190                69,190
                                       -------------         -------------
                                           6,563,227             9,069,190
    Less current portion                     720,000                69,190
                                       -------------         -------------
    Net long-term debt               $     5,843,227       $     9,000,000
                                       -------------         -------------
                                       -------------         -------------

The amount of long-term debt maturing in each of the next two years is
$69,190 in 1998 and $9,000,000 in 1999.                                         

5.  INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING                                                     

On August 12, 1994, the Company's initial public offering was declared
effective by the SEC and its stock began  trading on the NASDAQ national market 
system.  Pursuant to the terms of the offering, the Company issued 850,000      
shares which were sold at $8.00 per share.                                      

On September 22, 1994, the over-allotment option with the offering was
exercised, pursuant to which the Company issued an additional 40,000 shares at  
$8.00 per share.                                                                

     The net proceeds from the offering were $5,925,198.  Upon completion of the
public offering, AmeriLink Corporation terminated its S Corporation election,   
and paid $2,700,000 in dividends from the proceeds of the offering to the former
shareholders for undistributed earnings associated with its S Corporation       
status.  These shareholders, who are also the shareholders of N.C. Utility      
Services, Inc. (formerly NaCom Corp.), used a portion of these dividends to     
repay the outstanding balance of the Company's note receivable from N.C. Utility
Services, Inc.                                                                  

6.  INCOME TAXES                                                                

   Prior to the initial public offering, the income of the Company was taxed
under the provisions of Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code, which        
provides that in lieu of corporate income taxes, the shareholders of  the S     
Corporation are taxed  on their proportionate  share of the Company's taxable   
income.  Therefore, no provision or liability for federal income tax has been   
included in historical  financial statements prior to August 12, 1994, the date 
of the offering.  To the extent certain states and localities did not recognize 
the S Corporation election, taxes were provided.                                

   Effective March 29, 1993 the Company converted  from  the cash method  to
the accrual method of  accounting for income tax purposes.  This conversion     
created an adjustment of taxable income of approximately $3,473,000 that the    
Company elected to recognize in six equal installments ("Cash to accrual        
adjustment").  The unpaid portion of the related liability is recorded as a     
temporary difference in deferred tax liabilities.                               

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 AMERILINK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS --- CONTINUED

6.  INCOME TAXES - CONTINUED                                                    

    The provision for income taxes consists of the following for the
fifty-two weeks ended April 2, 1995, March 31, 1996 and March 30, 1997:         

                               1995              1996             1997
                               ----              ----             ----

Current:                                                                      
Federal                    $    652,647      $    315,200     $  1,013,000
State and local                 256,341            83,300          255,000
                            -----------       -----------      -----------
                                908,988           398,500        1,268,000
Tax adjustment due to                                                         
change in tax status             376,000                                    

Deferred:                                                                     
 Federal                        (246,500)         (144,000)        (123,000)
 State and local                 (43,500)          (25,500)         (22,000)
                            -----------       -----------      -----------
                                (290,000)         (169,500)        (145,000)
                            -----------       -----------      -----------
                           $    994,988      $    229,000     $  1,123,000
                            -----------       -----------      -----------
                            -----------       -----------      -----------

    Deferred tax assets and liabilities recorded in the consolidated
balance sheets at March 31, 1996 and March 30, 1997 consist of the following:   

                                               1996               1997
                                               ----               ----
Deferred tax assets:                                                          
  Depreciation                             $     95,909      $        ----
  Accrued compensation                          149,250            164,170
  Accrued insurance                             147,402             90,128
  Allowance for doubtful accounts                38,000             68,400
   Other                                         47,903             73,173
                                            -----------       ------------
   Total deferred tax assets                    478,464            395,871
                                            -----------       ------------
Deferred tax liabilities:                                                   
    Cash to accrual adjustment                  (469,017)          (234,509)
    Depreciation                                    ----            ( 7,059)
                                            -----------       ------------
    Total deferred tax liabilities              (469,017)          (241,568)
                                            -----------       ------------
Net deferred tax assets                     $      9,447      $     154,303 
                                            -----------       ------------
                                            -----------       ------------

 A reconciliation of the federal corporate income tax rate and the
effective tax rate on income taxes is summarized below for the periods ended    
March 31, 1996 and March 30, 1997.                                              

                                                1996                1997
                                                ----                ----
Statutory income tax rate                          34.0%               34.0%  
State and local taxes, net of Federal                                         
benefit                                           5.2%                5.2%
Permanent differences                               5.6%                2.5%  
Adjustment due to change in                                                   
accounting estimate                             (11.4%)              ---- 
                                               -------              ------
 Effective income tax rate                       33.4%               41.7%
                                               -------              ------
                                               -------              ------

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 AMERILINK CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS --- CONTINUED

7.  PRO FORMA NET INCOME PER SHARE (UNAUDITED)                                  

  Pro forma net income per share is calculated by dividing pro forma net
income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period,  
including, when their effect is dilutive, common stock equivalents consisting of
shares subject to stock options.                                                

     Pro forma income taxes represent the estimated taxes that would have been
reported had the Company been subject to federal, state, and local taxes for    
each period presented.  Pro forma income before taxes for the fifty-two weeks   
ended April 2, 1995 includes a foreign tax credit of approximately $42,000 from 
its operations in Mexico that the Company would have recognized had it operated 
as a C Corporation for the entire fiscal year.                                  

8.  OPERATING LEASES                                                            

      The Company is committed under noncancellable operating leases for offices
and warehouse space which will require future minimum rental commitments in the 
amount of $369,834 in 1998, $201,923 in 1999 and $101,842 in 2000.              

    Rental expense under all operating leases amounted to $603,471, $769,779
and $923,752 for the years ended  April 2, 1995, March 31, 1996 and March 30,   
1997, respectively.                                                             

9.  STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN                                      

     Prior to the Company's initial public offering, key officers were granted
options to purchase outstanding shares of common stock from the majority        
shareholders of the Company, and in connection with the recapitalization agreed 
to restated option agreements.  The Chief Executive Officer was granted options 
to purchase 135,000 shares at $4.00 per share and 225,000 shares at $6.35 per   
share.  The 135,000 options shall remain effective throughout employment with   
the Company, and the 225,000 options shall remain effective until the later of  
termination of employment or, in the event employment is terminated by death,   
one year after death. All options are currently exercisable and no options had  
been exercised as of the fiscal year ended March 30, 1997.  The Company's Vice  
President of Operations was granted options to purchase 81,000 shares at $4.69  
per share.  These options shall remain effective until the earlier of May 1,    
2004 or the termination of employment (if employment is terminated by death,    
then one year after death).  Options to purchase fifty percent of the shares    
will become exercisable on April 1, 1997 and the remaining options will become  
exercisable, on a cumulative basis, at the rate of 10% per year commencing on   
April 1, 1998.  There have been no options exercised as of March 30, 1997.      

  Effective August 1994, the Company adopted a stock incentive plan (the
"Plan") for key employees and directors of the Company.  The Plan is            
administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, and       
provides for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted     
stock awards and phantom stock.  The maximum aggregate number of common shares  
which may be granted under the Plan is 350,000 shares, and the maximum number of
shares that may be awarded during any calendar year may not exceed 10% of the   
total number of issued and outstanding common shares of the Company.  Any awards
that lapse or are canceled are available for re-grant under the terms of the    
Plan.                                                                           

     Stock option grants may be in the form of incentive stock options or non-
qualified options.  As of March 30, 1997, all options granted have been non-    
qualified options.  Key employee options awarded under the plan vest 20%        
annually from the date of the grant, and non-employee Director option awards    
vest 25% annually from the date of the grant.  Stock options awarded under the  
plan are at exercise prices that equal or exceed the fair market value at the   
date of the grant, and any shares not exercised lapse on the earliest of ten    
years from the grant date or 90 days after termination with the Company.  In    
February, 1997, an initial grant of 3,000 shares of restricted stock was issued 
to non-employee Directors of the Company.  One-third of the shares becomes      
exercisable on each of the next three anniversaries of the date of the award.   

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS --- CONTINUED

9.  STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN - CONTINUED                          

  The following table summarizes all stock option transactions under the
Stock Incentive Plan for the fiscal years ended April 2, 1995, March 31, 1996,  
and March 30, 1997.                                                             

                                                        [Enlarge/Download Table]


                                     1995                              1996                           1997                
                          ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                             Weighted                          Weighted                       Weighted    
                                             Average                           Average                         Average    
                           Options        Exercise Price       Options      Exercise Price     Options      Exercise Price
                          ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                                                          
 Outstanding - beginning                                                                                                  
        of year                 ----                             124,875                        142,450                   

        Granted              134,125         $  8.75              26,375         $  8.00         48,425         $  7.75   
       Forfeited              (9,250)        $  8.00              (8,800)        $  8.00        (13,385)        $  7.95   
                             -------                             -------                        -------                   

 Outstanding - end of year   124,875         $  8.80             142,450         $  8.70        177,490         $  8.50   
                             -------                             -------                        -------                   

 Exercisable at end of year     ---                               23,684         $  8.84         49,125         $  8.81   
                                                                 -------                        -------                   

         The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at March 30, 1997:                    

                                        Options Outstanding                       Options Exercisable                     
                           ----------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------             

                                        Weighted Average    Weighted                              Weighted                
                                           Remaining         Average                              Average                 
RANGE OF EXERCISE PRICES    Options     Contractual Life   Exercise Price       Options        Exercise Price             
-------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------             
   7.75 - $8.00             127,490             8.3          $   7.91            29,125          $  8.00                  

      $10.00                 50,000             7.4          $  10.00            20,000          $ 10.00                  
                            -------                                              ------                                   

 Exercisable at end of year 177,490                                              49,125                                   
                            -------                                              ------                                   


   The Company adopted the disclosure requirements of Statement of
Financial Standards No. 123 ("SFAS 123"), "Accounting for Stock-Based           
Compensation", but has elected to continue to measure compensation expense in   
accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, ("APB 25")          
"Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees".  Under  APB 25, no compensation     
expense for stock options has been recognized because the exercise price equals 
or exceeds the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant.  If   
compensation expense had been determined based on the estimated fair value of   
options granted in fiscal 1996 and 1997, consistent with the methodology in SFAS
123, the pro-forma effects on the Company's net income and net income per share 
would have been immaterial, and therefore, have not been provided.              

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS --- CONTINUED

10.  QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)                                       

      The following is a summary of the unaudited quarterly results from
operations for the 52 weeks ended March 31, 1996 and March 30, 1997 (in         
thousands, except per share amounts).                                           

                               FIRST      SECOND      THIRD         FOURTH
                               QUARTER    QUARTER     QUARTER        QUARTER
                              ------------------------------------------------
Revenues:                                                                     
 Fiscal 1996                 $ 11,044    $  16,415    $  15,661     $ 12,936
 Fiscal 1997                   13,521       15,663       16,731       17,121
Gross profit:                                                                 
 Fiscal 1996                    3,185        4,955        4,866        4,099
 Fiscal 1997                    4,500        5,181        5,850        6,207
Income(loss) before                                                           
income taxes:                                                             
  Fiscal 1996                     (344)         890          341         (201)
 Fiscal 1997                      369          514          830          978
Net income (loss):                                                            
  Fiscal 1996                     (206)         534          245         (116)
 Fiscal 1997                      222          308          498          540
Income (loss) per                                                             
share                                                                     
  Fiscal 1996                    (0.06)        0.15         0.07        (0.03)
 Fiscal 1997                     0.06         0.09         0.14         0.15

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ITEM 9    CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND       
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.                                       

Not Applicable.                                             

PART III

ITEM 10   DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.                   

          The information required by Item 10 is contained in the Company's 1997
        Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.  Such Proxy
       Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
not later than 120 days after the Company's fiscal year end.

ITEM 11   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.                                               

          The information required by Item 11 is contained in the Company's 1997
        Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.  Such Proxy
       Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
not later than 120 days after the Company's fiscal year end.

ITEM 12   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.       

          The information required by Item 12 is contained in the Company's 1997
        Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.  Such Proxy
       Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
not later than 120 days after the Company's fiscal year end.

ITEM 13   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.                       

The information required by Item 13 is contained in the     
Company's 1997 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by
reference.  Such Proxy Statement will be filed with the     
Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days  
after the Company's fiscal year end.                        

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 PART IV

ITEM 14   EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.      

(a) (1) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.                                         

   The following consolidated financial statements and notes of the Company,
    together with the report thereon of Ernst & Young LLP, appear in Item 8 of
this Annual Report on Form 10-K.                                      

Report of Independent Auditors                              
       Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 1996 and March 30, 1997
Consolidated Statements of Income for the 52 weeks ended    
April 2, 1995, March 31, 1996 and March 30, 1997        
         Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the 52
    weeks ended April 2, 1995, March 31, 1996 and March 30, 1997
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the 52 weeks ended
April 2, 1995, March 31, 1996 and March 30, 1997        
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                  

(a) (2) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.                                

   The following financial statement schedule of the Company appears on page
34 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.                                

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts             

All other schedules have been omitted because they are either not     
  applicable, not required, or the required information is provided in the
financial statements or notes thereto.                                

(a) (3) SEE INDEX TO EXHIBITS ON PAGE 35.                             

(b) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.                                              

On January 13, 1997, the Company filed a current report on Form 8-K   
reporting under Item 5, Other Events, that Gerard B.                  
Moersdorf, Jr. voluntarily resigned as a director of the Company for  
personal reasons.                                                     

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.                       

Date:     June 24, 1997                      AMERILINK CORPORATION    

/s/  Larry R. Linhart                             
------------------------------                    
By Larry R. Linhart, President                    
and Chief Executive Officer                     

   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the          
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.                    

Signature                Title                                   Date           
---------                -----                                   ----           

/s/ Larry R. Linhart     Chairman of the Board, President   June 24, 1997       
----------------------     and Chief Executive Officer                          
Larry R. Linhart                                                                

/s/ James W. Brittan     Treasurer and Vice President       June 24, 1997       
----------------------     Finance (Principal                                   
James W. Brittan           Financial and Accounting                             
Officer)                  

/s/ Robert Powelson      Secretary and Director             June 24, 1997       
----------------------                                                          
Robert Powelson                                                                 

/s/ George Manser        Director                           June 24, 1997       
----------------------                                                          
George Manser                                                                   

/s/ William H. Largent   Director                           June 24, 1997       
----------------------                                                          
William H. Largent                                                              

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AMERILINK CORPORATION                                                           

SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS                                 
(IN THOUSANDS)                                                                  

                                                        [Enlarge/Download Table]


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Column A                        Column B        Column C          Column D                Column E            Column F   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Additions        Additions                                                
                                          Balance at     Charged to        Charged to                  (1)              Balance at  
                                          Beginning       Cost an            Other                  Deductions            End of    
        Description                       of Period       Expenses          Accounts                 Describe             Period    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                    
YEAR ENDED MARCH 30, 1997                                                                                                           
   Allowance for uncollectible accounts     $  95          $ 349                                    $ (273)              $  171     
YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1996                                                                                                           
   Allowance for uncollectible accounts     $  95          $  91                                    $  (91)              $   95     
YEAR ENDED APRIL 2, 1995                                                                                                            
   Allowance for uncollectible accounts     $  72          $ 158                                    $ (135)              $   95     

---------------                                                                                                                     


(1)  Uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries.                     

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 INDEX TO EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT NO.                      DESCRIPTION                                
-----------                      -----------                                

2.1.      Form of Recapitalization Agreement and Plan of Merger.*     

3.1.      Amended Articles of Incorporation.*                         

3.2.      Code of Regulations.*                                       

4.1.      Specimen Certificate for Common Shares.*                    

   4.2.      Bank Loan Agreement, dated December 29, 1994, between AmeriLink
           Corp. dba NaCom and Bank One, Columbus, N.A. (incorporated by
             reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrants quarterly report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 1, 1995). 

  4.3.      Bank Loan Agreement Amendment dated September 29, 1995 between
    AmeriLink Corp. dba NaCom and Bank One, Columbus, N.A.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the  
             registrants quarterly report on form 10-Q for the quarter ended
October 1, 1995).                                 

  4.4.      Bank Loan Agreement Amendment dated September 27, 1996 between
    AmeriLink Corp. dba NaCom and Bank One, Columbus, N.A.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the  
             registrants quarterly report on form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 29, 1996).                              

10.1.     Form of 1994 Stock Incentive Plan.*                         

   10.2.     Form of Executive Employment Agreement between Larry R. Linhart
and Registrant.*                                  

10.3.     Employment Agreement between Joseph L. Govern and Operating 
Company, dated October 1, 1991.*                  

10.4.     Form of Joseph L. Govern Stock Option Agreement.*           

    10.5.     Form of Shareholders' Agreement among the Principal Shareholders
and Registrant.*                                  

10.6.     Form of Unconditional Guaranty Agreement between Principal  
Shareholders and the Operating Company.*          

    10.7.     Form of Demand Promissory Note from NaCom Corp. to the Operating
Company.*                                         

10.8.     Construction Agreement dated January 20, 1994 between the   
      Operating Company and Cox Cable San Diego, Inc. (without
exhibits).*                                       

   10.9.     Stock Purchase and Close Corporation Agreement as amended among
           the Principal Shareholders and the Operating Company (without
exhibits).*                                       

  10.10.    Restricted Stock Award Agreement between AmeriLink Corporation
and William H. Largent and George Manser.**       

    11.1.     Statement regarding the computation of per share earnings. (Page
39)**                                             

21.1.     Subsidiaries of the registrant.*                            

23.1.     Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.**                             

27.       Financial Data Schedule. **                                 

-------------                                                                   

* Incorporated by reference from the registrants registration statement on  
form S-1, file no. 33-79832.                                                    

** Filed herewith.                                                              

35

Dates Referenced Herein   and   Documents Incorporated by Reference

				Referenced-On Page
This ‘10-K405’ Filing		Date		First		Last			Other Filings
		5/1/04		28
		9/30/98		16		25
		4/1/98		28
		12/31/97		25
Filed on:		6/25/97
		6/24/97		33
		6/18/97		10
		5/31/97		16		25
		5/30/97		1
		5/16/97		18
		4/1/97		28
For Period End:		3/30/97		1		34
		1/13/97		32					8-K
		12/29/96		10					10-Q
		9/29/96		10		35			10-Q
		9/27/96		16		35
		6/30/96		10					10-Q
		3/31/96		5		34
		12/31/95		10
		10/1/95		10		35
		9/29/95		35
		7/2/95		10
		4/2/95		20		34
		1/1/95		35
		12/29/94		35
		9/22/94		26
		8/12/94		10		26
		1/20/94		35
		12/15/93		3
		3/29/93		26
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