COMPANY HISTORY
Geneseo, Cambridge and Henry County Communications, successfully serving you for more than 100 years.
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’
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’
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
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
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
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
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