Coon Creek Telephone Co / Coon Creek Telecommunications

Coon Creek Telecommunications is a subsidiary of Coon Creek Telephone Company (CCTC) with its' Business Office located in Blairstown.

Telephone service in Blairstown began in 1898, when two phones were installed, in Hoebel's Hardware and B.F. Paul's Drug Store. A few more town and farm lines were added over the next several years. Each line was separate and had its' own director. Blairstown Switchboard Assn., another area company, dates back to 1913. In 1929 most of the individual lines merged under the name of Coon Creek Telephone Company. In 1942 CCTC absorbed the Blairstown Mutual Company. In 1955 CCTC moved to 312 Locust Street, and in 1960 the company switched to dial tone. In 1988, CCTC built its' present building on that site.

In 1997 a large number of residents in Belle Plaine and Marengo indicated that convenient local service and improved services were necessary to meet their telecommunications requirements. CCTC made the commitment to those communities in 1998 by installing a fiber route between Belle Plaine, Blairstown, and Marengo; invested in two new local offices: and installed state-of-the-art switching equipment. Installation of modems and routers for dial-up Internet customers occurred in 1999. In 2000 CCTC installed high-speed Internet equipment, and with its' Benton/Linn Wireless affiliates, CCTC erected PCS wireless towers in the three communities to provide digital wireless coverage.

In 2003, CCTC's Board of Directors made the decision to overbuild the Belle Plaine and Marengo communities with new underground plant facilities. The overbuild project began in 2004 and was completed in 2006. The new plant facilities will allow CCTC to provide customers with the highest quality telecommunications service and introduce competitive video services to CCTC customers.

SIGNIFICANT DATES IN OUR HISTORY:
1898 - two telephones installed in Blairstown
1913 - Blairstown Switchboard Assn. was formed
1929 - Coon Creek Telephone Company formed with the merger of individual lines
1942 - Coon Creek Telephone absorbed the Blairstown Mutual Telephone Co.
1960 - Dial services provided
1983 - Cable television equipment installed for Blairstown customers
1988 - New telephone building built at 312 Locust Street, Blairstown
1997 - Decision to expand telephone service to Belle Plaine and Marengo
1998 - Construction completed with new offices in Belle Plaine and Marengo
2000 - Installation of high-speed Internet service
- New PCS digital Wireless towers constructed
2004 - New underground facilities construction begins in Belle Plaine and Marengo
2006- New underground facilities completed