| About Us |
What we do:Martelle Communications CO-OP is a member owned cooperative company providing:
Who we are:As a local, member owned cooperative, our focus is bringing world class communications service to member/owner our rural Iowa environment. The board of directors consists of local members who are elected by local members. The board provides oversight and direction to the dedicated staff. A communications legacy:In the beginning, all telephone service was local. Long distance would come later. It started in cities, and then became feasible in small towns . A great innovation was to connect two or more towns providing “long distance” service. There wasn’t always telephone service in rural areas either. Because of the high cost resulting from long distances between just a few customers, rural areas traditionally were not served by large companies and had to create their own telephone service. The Martelle Switchboard Company was formed in 1900, beginning telephone service in the area. The first switchboard was purchased for $88.20 and the first operator was paid $225 per year. Calls up to 15 mile away cost 10 cents each. Calls to location further than 15 miles were 15 cents. A 10 cent messenger fee was charged for calling people in town who did not have a phone in their house. A new Kellogg switchboard was purchased in 1915 and was in service until November 1958. Operating as the Martelle Cooperative Telephone Association, the system converted to the new “dial system” in November 1958. Leich dial equipment was installed at the new central office building located at 204 south Street. Total cost of equipment and installation was less than $65,000. $36,000 of common stock and $21,000 of preferred stock in the new company was issued and sold. Organized in November, 1957, officers of the Martelle Cooperative Telephone Association in 1958 were; G.J. Armstrong, President; C.G. Darsee, Vice president; and Glenn Strother, Secretary-Treasurer. Other board members were Dale Newman and Lyle Beighle. With the newly upgraded system, Martelle patrons could directly dial without the aid of an operator. In addition, they could dial Springville and Morley with out incurring a toll charge. Toll free service to Anamosa was implemented in 1972. Service was continually upgraded over the years until each patron had a “private line” in 1972. Toll free EAS service to Cedar Rapids was implemented in July, 1998. A used Northern Telecom (NORTEL) DMS-10 electronic switch was installed in 1987. Annual software upgrades have provided new features on a continual basis. That switch is planned for replacement in 2008. In December, 1989 Martelle Communications launched yet another service, Cable TV. The intent was to meet growing demand for video services in the town of Martelle. By 1991, the success of the cable offering resulted in petitions from nearby rural households as well as other nearby communities of Fairview, Morley, and Stone City. The Cable system grew to serve much of Greenfield and Fairview Townships. That system had reached its capacity for growth and in 2008 the cable system will be upgraded to a hybrid cable/fiber optic system offering even more expanded products and services. We have come a long way from connecting together a few battery operated crank telephones, to the feature rich global reach of today’s communications systems. What hasn’t changed is the desire and commitment of Iowans to live rurally and still communicate globally. Martelle Communications CO-OP is here to provide communications solutions and value to its patrons. The journey continues.
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