COMPANY HISTORY

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1895-1926

1895
The Central Union Telephone Company opens an exchange to serve Geneseo, Illinois
1901
To compete with Central Union; John Dedrick and D.M. Storm form City Mutual Telephone Company
1926
Rural and city lines combine to form ‘Geneseo Co-Operative Telephone Company’

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1941-1958

1945
The switchboard is moved from the 2nd floor of former Farmers National Bank building to the company’s current location on First Street
1952
New dial service is installed which leads to a 50% reduction in the operator force
1953/1957
Henry County Telephone Company than later Cambridge Telephone Company sign agreements allowing Geneseo Co-Operative Telephone Company to act as a service bureau
1958
As a privately owned company, the word “Co-Operative” is dropped, and the name becomes ‘Geneseo Telephone Company’

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1965-1989

1965
Henry County Telephone Company expands service into Atkinson
1968
Geneseo Telephone Company becomes first Illinois company to provide 9-1-1 service
1985
A new digital switch is installed, and with-it comes Equal Access
1988
Geneseo Telephone; first independent telephone company in Illinois to convert to equal access
1989
Geneseo Telephone Co. is awarded the contract to develop and implement the Enhanced 9-1-1 system for Henry County

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1990-1999

1990
Geneseo Telephone Co., first company in Illinois to offer CLASS features
1994
GenSoft Systems, Inc., is formed to market Operational Support Systems (OSS) software and billing service bureau functions for telephone companies nationwide
1995
Geneseo Telephone Company becomes an ISP (Internet Service Provider) and offers Internet services to customers
1996
Geneseo Long Distance is launched. Later that year Celebrate Communications, L.L.C. is formed
1997
Cambridge Telcom Services is formed, operating as a CLEC extending service into Andover, Illinois
1998
Telephone Companies band together to form IL PCS providing digital PCS under the Sprint PCS brand name.
1999
Digital Subscriber Line ‘DSL’ High Speed Internet is offered
1999
Tri-Com, LLC is formed expanding services into portions of Henry and Mercer County, Illinois

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2000-2010

2000
iPCS, is incorporated to assume the business of Illinois PCS
2001
TriCom L.L.C. purchases Interactive Design Consultants, and forms IDC Digital Solutions, a computer and Internet service provider. In that same year, a retail store is opened
2001
Geneseo Telephone Company replaces DMS-10 switch with a DMS-100 switch, offering Geneseo customers direct links to inter-exchange carriers
2001
iPCS, Inc. and Airgate PCS, a Sprint PCS affiliate, complete a stock for stock merger by which iPCS becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Airgate PCS
2005
Geneseo Telephone Company celebrates a century of service
2006
Geneseo Telephone Company purchases Precision Alignment building. Demolition of the building makes room for the new 4,500 square foot retail IDC TechCenter store
2007
Geneseo Telephone Company introduces On Guard Security offering monitored fire, smoke, security, and personal safety systems to residents of Henry County
2008
Geneseo Communications is awarded reseller license by Dish and DirecTV, expanding its offering to include video entertainment
2010
IDC Technology Solutions welcomes Radio Shack franchise

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2011-2020

2011
Henry County Telephone named preferred provider of communication services for President Obama’s visit to Atkinson, Illinois
2013
Geneseo Communications opens Colohub in Bettendorf, Iowa, a new 56,000 square foot state of the art data center facility
2013
Cambridge Telcom begins extensive fiber optic project to better serve the communities of Kewanee, Wethersfield, and Galva IL
2013
Geneseo Communications announces plans to expand its direct fiber network into the Iowa Quad City area
2014
Geneseo Communications sells On Guard Security division
2015
Putnam and Rock Island Counties select Geneseo Communications to power 911 emergency services
2015
Cambridge Telcom begins fiber expansion to homes and business within areas of Cambridge, IL
2015
Geneseo Communications enters the Bitcoin world and processes its first mining machine from its Colohub Data Center facility in Bettendorf, Iowa
2015
The City of East Moline selects Geneseo Communications to power all city facilities with Fiber Optic Service
2016
Geneseo Communications launches BillProEasy, a new customer billing platform including self-managed service through Apple and Android app access
2017
Cambridge Telcom announces plans to expand their fiber network to Orion, Il
2020
Geneseo Communications is awarded $5 Million and Cambridge Telcom $800 thousand in grant funding through the State of Illinois Connect Illinois Broadband Initiative

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2021-2024

2021
Geneseo Communications begins expansion of their fiber network throughout the city of Geneseo, IL and in parts of Coal Valley, IL
2022
With the financial support from the Henry County Commission and the communities involved, Geneseo Communications, Cambridge Telcom, and Henry County Telephone Co., will Invest Millions to Build 100% Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) networks throughout Atkinson, Annawan, Cambridge, Cleveland and the Wolf Road corridor
2023
With the financial support from the Henry County Commission and the communities involved, Geneseo Communications, Cambridge Telcom, and Henry County Telephone Co., announce the completion of the 100% Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) networks throughout Geneseo, Atkinson, Annawan, Cambridge, Cleveland and the Wolf Road corridor
2023
Geneseo Communications, Cambridge Telcom, and Henry County Telephone Co., introduce the area’s most advanced wireless technology to serve rural areas throughout Geneseo, Atkinson, Annawan, and Cambridge
2024
FiberMeFast powered by Geneseo Communications has been selected by the City of Peru, to build a buried 100% fiber-to-the-premises network throughout the city
2024
FiberMeFast powered by Geneseo Communications has been selected by the Village of Sheffield, to build a buried 100% fiber-to-the-premises network throughout the community